As a founding member of the critically acclaimed Manes and Lethe, Tor-Helge Skei has pushed the boundaries of both black metal and electronic music. Now, after more than 30 years, he’s expanding his vision like never before with Holissstik, a dark collective experiment that features fellow underground legends and rising stars from the avant-garde.

Chapter I: This Endless Solitude comes out tomorrow, Friday, August 14, but you can hear all eight endlessly rewarding songs today by listening to the full album stream below.

“The inspiration for Holissstik comes from the Greek word Hólos, which is the root for the English word ‘whole’”, Skei says. “Collaboration is the heart and soul of this project. The idea is that each part cannot exist or be understood when separated from the whole. The sum is greater than its parts”.

Pre-order & Stream

https://orcd.co/holissstiktheendlesssolitude

As could only be the case, Holissstik’s opening chapter started with Skei alone at his studio. But after meticulously sketching This Endless Solitude with his collection of guitars, recording software and homemade plug-ins, he allowed outside influences to take control. The album features more than 15 collaborators, including Martyna Hallas (Rage of Light), Marita Hellem (Martyra), French rapper Pierre Ripka, Paritta Monks and members of Manes and Lethe. It unfolds with surprising twists and turns right from the start, too. Lead single “The Rhythm of Silence” slips seamlessly through the cracks between trip-hop and industrial noise into rap.

Much like the wilted flowers that lay on its cover, death and its psychological offshoots linger in the many corners of This Endless Solitude. Hypnotized by soft spinning synths, “Reoccuring Dreams”quickly descends into a nightmare. But amidst deep-seeded anxieties, intrusive thoughts and other ceaseless discomforts, like a rope that guides one out of a cave, Holissstik still cling to hope. “Hold it gentle / In the palm of your hands”, Halas offers during enchanting centerpiece “Would You Take This Heart”. As the title track ends the album by turning into the light, it’s not so much an invitation as it is an invocation to become something greater than ourselves.

With This Endless Solitude, Holissstik emerge as a boundless, unified force.

Although the very nature of Holissstik demands that we expect the unexpected, the collective’s future certainly seems to guarantee obsidian horizons and torrential deluges of artistic truth. In other words, the project promises to persistently and ritualistically pummel us with devastating yet necessary, epic masterworks. Skei and his collaborators truly present the most immersive experiences possible and, in Manes language, offer a safe place in the unsafe; dive in with your hands bound, and be submerged within the imprisoning brilliance. Skei continues to participate in a range of outstanding groups, and yet Holissstik stands as the most unpredictable and, counterintuitive as it might sound, accessible undertaking in the history of his illustrious career.

Lineup
Tor-Helge Skei

Guest musicians

Anna Murphy - Vocals on “Obsession Six”

Christophe Denhez - Guitars on “The Rhythm of Silence”, Guitars, vocals and lyrics on “Behind Me”

Eivind Fjøseide - Guitars on all songs except “Projections”

Gabriel Trentini - Vocals and lyrics on “Obsession Six”

Kristoffer Oustad - Synth on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “Projections”, “Reoccuring Dreams”, “This Endless Solitude”

Tor-Arne Helgesen - Drums on all songs except “Behind Me” and “This Endless Solitude”

Marita Hellem - Vocals on “The Rhythm of Silence” and “This Endless Solitude”

Martyna Halas - Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “My Salvation”, “Would You Take This Heart” and “This Endless Solitude”

Nik Košar - Vocals and lyrics on “Projections” and “Reoccuring Dreams”

Pierre Ripka - Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence”

Paritta Monks - Chanting on “Would You Take This Heart”

Rune Folgerø - Vocals on "This Endless Solitude"
Rune Hoemsnes - Drums on "Behind Me"
Stig Waltoft - Synth and sounds on "Would You Take This Heart"
Tom Engelsøy - Vocals on "Obsession Six"
Torstein Parelius - Bass on "Behind Me" and "This Endless Solitude", lyrics on "This Endless Solitude"
Trond Johansen - Guitars on "Would You Take This Heart"

Production credits

Recorded, produced and mixed by Tor-Helge Skei

Mastered by Knut V. Prytz

Songwriting credits

All songwriting and arrangements by Tor-Helge Skei

Biography

Jillian Drachman

Cover art

Adrien Bousson

Pre-order & Stream

https://orcd.co/holissstiktheendlesssolitude

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