Holissstik Bare Tortured Soul on “Would You Take This Heart”
Posted on July 8, 2026
More information about Chapter I: This Endless Solitude
No matter what shape his muse takes, Tor-Helge Skei remains both one of the most consistent and surprising talents in extreme music. As a founding member of the critically acclaimed Manes and Lethe, the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and producer has pushed the boundaries of metal and electronic music. Now, with his latest experiment, he’s expanding his vision like never before. While it spans an impressive range of genres and features many celebrated collaborators, Holissstik achieves something even greater than its individual accomplishments.
“This Endless Solitude” equates to an unfathomably nuanced recurring lucid dream”, New Noise wrote upon the announcement of Holissstik’s debut album, which is also the first in a trilogy. “[…] haunting to the utmost degree by virtue of its funereal darkness, juxtaposed with tempting yet uncanny luminescence”.
Today, Holissstik are releasing the second advanced single from Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude. While scarred by past misgivings, by bearing its tortured soul, “Would You Take This Heart” reveals the collective spirit that makes Skei and his collaborators such a unified force.
“Collaboration is the heart and soul of Holissstik”, Skei says. “‘Would You Take This Heart’ was originally a simple, slow, ambient instrumental. But, as is often the case, the song evolved, unplanned and uncontrolled. As more and more collaborators added their parts, it became heavier and heavier, darker and darker”.
Listen to “Would You Take This Heart” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Chapter 1: This Endless Solitude comes out August 14, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Stream
https://orcd.co/holissstiktheendlesssolitude
Available formats
CD Digipack with alternative cover
12” Vinyl (Black)
12” Vinyl (Clear, green and purple marbled)
As one could reasonably expect, This Endless Solitude began in 2024 with Tor-Helge Skei alone at his studio in Norway, revisiting unfinished songs from previous projects. The album’s latest single opens with slow and ominous synths, like a ghost emerging from someone’s buried past. Over the following years, Skei salvaged bits and pieces of old recordings while building new components from scratch using his curious collection of recording software and homemade plug-ins. Though soft to its core, “Would You Take This Heart” pleads its case with hammering drums, industrial guitar and the hypnotic chant of Paritta monks.
Skei’s approach to production is still hands-on, but he’s invited outside influences to take control over Holissstik. “After I finished the initial sketches for these songs, I wanted to hear where other people would take with them without being given any rules, limitations or restrictions”, he says. “Would You Take This Heart” features his current and former Manes bandmates Eivind Fjøseide and Tor-Arne Helgesen, new collaborators in Stig Waltoft and Trond Johansen and a familiar face in Rage of Light’s Martyna Halas. “Hold it gently / In the palm of your hands”, Halas sings with a voice that’s as rich and pure as gold. It’s not a suggestion but an invitation to become something greater than ourselves.
“Holissstik became my sanctuary, a place where my deepest, darkest and most intimate emotions could finally find release”, Halas says. “It’s fascinating how creators from different parts of the world express the same feeling through their own perspectives. Each holds a piece of the puzzle, moving toward a shared sense of wholeness. I’m deeply grateful to contribute a piece of my heart and soul to this unique project”.
“With Hollissstik, we’ve built something that transcends traditional metal by focusing on the ‘holos’ – the beauty of the complete, interconnected whole”, says Helgesen, who contributes drums to “Would You Take This Heart”.
Fjøseide, who contributes guitar to the song, 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”.
More praise for Tor-Helge Skei
“This pioneer’s ability to craft totally immersive and awe-inspiring atmospheres cannot be outdone and has therefore infected droves of musicians with the will to follow his footsteps” – Loudwire
“The legendary Tor-Helge “Cernunnus” Skei of Manes has distinguished himself as an unsurpassed genius — one of the few true innovators creating sonic masterpieces not only today, but for more than thirty years” – Metal Insider
“…a creative genius whose highly varied body of work has already left what will prove a lasting impact on the music world” – Sonic Perspectives
“[…]a pioneer of the Norwegian avant-garde formation” – Metal1
“Calling the Norwegian Black-Metal legend Tor-Helge Skei “prolific” might be an understatement” – Stalker Magazine
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