ELIAS VILJANEN is a Finnish guitar hero blessed with "Concorde-fast fingers". His recording and live band, dubbed EVIL SPIRIT, comprises guitarist Jukka Talasmäki, guitarist / keyboard player Jari Koivisto, RECALL bassist Rami Herckman with Tomi Ylönen of RECALL, ROUNDSUN and SNOWBLIND on drums.

Debut album, 2002's 'Taking The Lead' issued through Finnish label Lion Music, was recorded at Phantom Studios in Tampere. The August 2005 album, 'The Leadstar', included guest players fellow guitarist LARS ERIC MATTSSON, Jani Kemppinen on keyboards, Jaan Wessman on bass and Janne Juutinen of MASTERSTROKE and Lacu Lahtinen of SNAKEGOD and HANOI ROCKS on the drums. Oddly this record included a cover version of LIONEL RICHIE's Pop ballad 'Hello'.

Elias Viljanen's third solo album, entitled 'Fire-Hearted', emerged on Spinefarm Records in 2009. Guest musicians on the album include vocalists Marco Hietala, of NIGHTWISH and TAROT, Tony Kakko, from SONATA ARCTICA, keyboard player Henrik Klingenberg, also of SONATA ARCTICA, bassist Jari Kainulainen, from EVERGREY, and ex-STRATOVARIUS, plus drummer Mikko Sirén, of APOCALYPTICA. Mikko Sirén and Tomi Ylönen also provided drums.