In early 2005 it was announced that guitarist JOE STUMP, a veteran of JOE STUMP'S REIGN OF TERROR, TRASH BROADWAY and SHINING HEMLOCK had formed HOLYHELL with fellow guitar shredder Tom Hess, "Chicago's premier guitar demon" of solo project HESS, and female singer Maria Breon. On drums would sit former MANOWAR man Karl 'Rhino' Edwards with bassist Jay Rigney, from EVENT, MVP and JOE STUMP'S REIGN OF TERROR and CRISTAL Y ACERO keyboard player Francisco Polomo. As a precursor to group activity, Stump spent April on the road in the European Low Countries mixing live shows with guitar clinics.

The band, signing to MANOWAR bassist Joey De Maio's Magic Circle Music label, secured the opening slot on the MANOWAR and RHAPSODY US tour commencing 2nd June in Cleveland, Ohio. This same combination of road partners journeyed further on the 'Demons, Dragons And Warriors' tour into Europe in the Spring of 2006. An EP, 'Apocalypse', emerged in March 2007.