STRATOVARIUS – Visions Of Brazil: Interview with Jani Liimatainen Jani Allan Kristian Liimatainen is a Finnish musician, former guitarist of the band Sonata Arctica, and currently guitarist in Cain's Offering. Until 2004, I used to play guitar and keyboard in Altaria band. Left the band Sonata Arctica in August 2007, leading to Elias Viljanen. Jani began studying guitar in his 11/12 years, taking seriously the studies at around his 14 years when he found out about Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Pain of Salvation, Dream Theater, etc. His musical evolution occurred mainly by self-learning, with few lessons as a base. He uses for the most part Ibanez guitars. In 2012, Jani and Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS singer and his bandmate in Cain's Offering) played together by Finland, doing acoustic shows. The shows resulted in a studio album called Blackoustic. Recently, Stratovarius Brasil had the honor to talk with Jani Liimatainen, band guitarist Cain's Offering on future plans, the launch of "Stormcrow", "Blackoustic" and etc. Check out the interview below: Ricardo Carvalho: Hello, Jani! You are about to release the new album for Cain’s Offering, which is much awaited in Brazil. How satisfied are you with this one? Jani: Hi Ricardo and Brazilian Stratofans, I’m more than satisfied! I think with this time and budget in our hands, there isn’t really too many ways this album could have turned out any better than it is. Ricardo Carvalho: You have given a new face to power metal with Cain’s, which pleased fans all around the world. It sounds very good and, at the same time, it is different of any other bands or projects in which you have already taken part. What would you say about it? Jani: Thank you for those kind words, this is a pretty difficult question for me. I’ve written pretty much all the material for the band, so it’s very hard for me to evaluate if the songs are “different” from other bands. I just try and write the best possible material I can, then have the best possible production, and what comes out is Cain’s Offering. I do agree that it’s maybe a bit different from a lot of bands, since Cain’s Offering has a few different styles, which is very liberating for me. It’s nice to be able to take songs into different directions without thinking too much about how this will fit in with “the mold”, so to speak. In the same time I think there is still a very coherent, solid and recognizable sound to the band, especially so with the new album. Ricardo Carvalho: What’s your favorite track from the album?

Jani: Again, a very difficult question. The songs are all my children, so picking a favourite is always though, but at the moment I’d say my favourite songs are “Antemortem” and “Stormcrow”. Ricardo Carvalho: Do you have plans for a release of a videoclip or a possible tour? Jani: We are discussing such options, but with Timo, Jens and the other guys having some other engagements as well it’s hard to find the time to get together for these things. I am definitely hoping we can do some actual live shows with this album, although it might be that we will have to wait for 2016 for that to happen. Ricardo Carvalho: Looking backwards, who would you say was the musician who inspired you to get into music? And what motivated you to be a guitar player of power metal? Jani: When Music Television came to Finland and I saw the videos for “You Could Be Mine” by Guns n’ Roses and “Enter Sandman” by Metallica I knew I wanted to become a musician and do what they do. As for power metal, when I heard Yngwie Malmsteen for the first time I was totally blown away, that really got me into practising my ass off. Then a while later I heard “Episode” by Stratovarius and some Helloween stuff, and I was sold. Looking back at all that now, it seems surreal that some of the guys that inspired me so much back then are now in the same band with me, playing songs that I wrote. Can’t complain :)

Ricardo Carvalho: Some time ago, you and Timo showed interest hitting the road with the Duo, in places such as Japan and Latin America. Does it still exist? Jani: Yes, both the Duo and the interest still exist :) We are actually discussing some ideas regarding this, but at the moment it’s too early to reveal anything concrete. Stay tuned for that :) Ricardo Carvalho: Returning to Cain’s Offering, do you have any idea of doing something live? Jani: Yes, we are definitely hoping for that. The only issue of course is the timing, as I mentioned before. We are trying to make it happen though, it would be a blast to get out and perform these new songs live. Ricardo Carvalho: Have you and Timo ever thought of a successor to “Blackoustic”? Jani: We’ve joked about it, but the truth is that both of us have way too much stuff on our plates to even consider that at the moment. Of course no one knows what the future will bring, everything is possible :) Ricardo Carvalho: Well, it is a shame that our interview is coming to an end. To finalize, would you like to leave any message to your Brazilian fans? It was a pleasure! Jani: Thank you so much for your support everyone! It means the world to us and we are hoping to bring Cain’s Offering there to play to you live and kick some serious ass :) By Ricardo Carvalho Thanks: Julle and Jani Liimatainen

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