After more than 30 years, Tor-Helge Skei remains one of the most consistent and surprising talents in extreme music. A founding member of the critically acclaimed group Manes, the Norwegian mainstay, multi-instrumentalist and producer has pushed the boundaries of black metal and the avant-garde. Now, with his new collaborative project, Holissstik, he’s expanding his vision like never before.

Today, Skei is announcing Holissstik’s debut album Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude. The album is the first in a trilogy and arrives with a captivating music video for its genre-busting lead single. While full of regrets, “The Rhythm of Silence” speaks to the collective spirit that makes Holissstik such a unified force.

“Collaboration is the heart and soul of Holissstik”, Skei says. “The name comes from the Greek word Hólos, which, in English, is the root word for ‘whole’. The idea is that the music as a whole is greater than its individual contributions”.

“With Hollissstik, we’ve built something that transcends traditional metal by focusing on the ‘holos’ - the beauty of the complete, interconnected whole”, says Manes member Tor-Arne Helgesen, who contributes drums to “The Rhythm of Silence”.

Fellow Manes member Eivind Fjøseide, who contributes guitar to “The Rhythm of Silence”, agrees. “Skei and I have worked together on music for more than 30 years. Together, we have a special chemical musical reaction that makes things very exciting”.

Watch the video for “The Rhythm of Silence” below.

Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude comes out August 14, 2026 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Stream

https://orcd.co/holissstiktheendlesssolitude

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

Available formats