NIGHTWISH, APOCALYPTICA, EVERGREY Members To Guest On SONATA ARCTICA Guitarist's Solo CD

Vocalists Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) and Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg (SONATA ARCTICA), bassist Jari Kainulainen (EVERGREY, ex-STRATOVARIUS) and drummer Mikko Sirén (APOCALYPTICA) are among the guest musicians who appear on the third solo album from SONATA ARCTICA guitarist Elias Viljanen, tentatively due later in the year via Spinefarm Records.

Viljanen has been touted as Finland's answer to Joe Satriani, and his second solo album, "The Leadstar" (2005), featured "lightning speed, spark flying chops, flashy moves, and supreme melodies that rise from below and expand beyond the heavens," according to a press release. That CD also inclided Elias' hard rock, instrumental cover of LIONEL RICHIE's monster hit "Hello". Check out audio samples at CDUniverse.com.

Viljanen joined SONATA ARCTICA in the fall of 2007.