Former STRATOVARIUS/EVERGREY Bassist Joins DEVIL'S TRAIN

DEVIL'S TRAIN, the new band featuring MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman/producer R.D. Liapakis, STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Michael and guitarist Lakis Ragazas, has announced the addition of bassist Jari Kainulainen to the group's ranks. Kainulainen is a Finnish bassist who plays in the power metal supergroup SYMFONIA. He was previously a member of KILLING MACHINE, STRATOVARIUS and the progressive power metal band EVERGREY. Kainulainen plays Ibanez six-string basses and uses Ampeg amplifiers. He is influenced by Geezer Butler, Billy Sheehan, Cliff Burton and Steve Harris.

Commented Liapakis: "Jari is fully professional and has had much experience both in studio and in performing. His playing is the perfect missing part to complete the sound of the band as I pictured it when I first got the idea for DEVIL'S TRAIN as apart from his skilled playing he also enhances his performances with distinctive feeling and groove." Having spent a month together on the road earlier this year as part of the "Polaris" tour, Liapakis and Michael decided to explore their common love of '80s hard rock/heavy metal by putting together an "old-school heavy/hard rock" band. DEVIL'S TRAIN is a project Liapakis has been working on with Greek guitarist Lakis Ragazas for the past year and as soon as Michael heard it, he asked to become part of it as the group's drummer. DEVIL'S TRAIN's as-yet-untitled debut album is being recorded at Prophecy and Music Factory studios and the production is being handled by Liapakis and Christian Schmid. A tentative early 2011 release is expected.

Commented Liapakis: "I am rock and roll down to my veins and I always had diverse influences in my music, a great part of which are expressed in the music I write with MYSTIC PROPHECY. However, the style of music I have been preparing for DEVIL'S TRAIN with Lakis Ragazas isn't the style that would fit MYSTIC PROPHECY and this is why I decided to initiate a side band. Luckily, other people with whom I have common musical background share my vice for rock 'n' roll and Jörg, as I found out when we toured together last January, is one of them. None of us is less of a member on our bands, we just want to have a rock 'n' roll party on the side!"