Pest was one of the founding members of the Norwegian symphonic black metal band Obtained Enslavement, which was formed in Stord, Norway, in 1989.

Pest performed his first concert with Gorgoroth in December 1995, supporting Cradle of Filth at the London Astoria, and provided the vocals for the song "Possessed (by Satan)" on the band's second album, Antichrist, released in 1996.

Gorgoroth went on a European tour with Satyricon and Dissection in April 1996, followed by one-off gigs in Bergen, Norway and in Bischofswerda, Germany.

Pest provided all the vocals on Gorgoroth's third full-length album, Under the Sign of Hell, which was recorded in spring 1996 and released in 1997.

Gorgoroth went on their first headlining European tour in fall 1997,[1] after which Pest decided to leave the band to concentrate on his work in Obtained Enslavement.