in 2004, hess joined a power metal band holyhell. the band went on tour in 2005, before releasing its first album. tom hess and holyhell played alongside bands such as black sabbath (heaven and hell), motorhead, nightwish, epica, testament, manowar and rhapsody of fire performing for crowds of up to 30,000 people. some of the band's notable performances included the earthshaker's festival in germany and masters of rock festival in the czech republic where the band performed the cover of "the phantom of the opera".