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At Noble Demon, we have always believed that music is ultimately about people. While Shaun Glass's legacy as a guitarist, songwriter, and pioneer of Chicago metal will continue to inspire generations, the greatest legacy he leaves behind is the countless lives he touched with his generosity, kindness, and unwavering belief in others.

The tribute below was written by Troy Dixler on behalf of Shaun's family. We hope you'll take a moment to read it, remember the remarkable man behind the music, and, if you're able, help honor the legacy he cared about most: his son, Maddux.

On July 1, 2026, the world lost Shaun Glass, a legendary musician who spent over four decades shaping the Chicago metal scene through Terminal Death, Sindrome, Broken Hope, SOiL, Dirge Within, The Bloodline, and most recently Repentance. He shared stages with some of the biggest names in the genre and left behind music that fans still play on repeat.

But if you ask anyone who actually knew Shaun, the music was never the most impressive thing about him.

Shaun's wealth was never in a bank account; it was in every room he ever walked into. You could know him for five minutes and walk away feeling like you'd known him your whole life. He introduced bands, friends, and strangers to chances they never would have found on their own, not because it benefited him, but because that's just who he was, and he never once asked for anything back. Ask around the metal scene and you won't find one person who claims to be his best friend. You'll find fifty. That's not an exaggeration. That was just Shaun.

On May 31, 2026, Shaun suffered a stroke brought on by undiagnosed high blood pressure. He spent nearly a month in the hospital on life support, surrounded the entire time by people who truly loved him, before passing peacefully on hospice care. Shaun's insurance is pending, and anyone who has ever dealt with a hospital bill knows what even a few days in intensive care can cost. A month on life support has left behind an overwhelming amount of medical debt and final expenses.

A fundraiser has been set up for Shaun's family by Troy Dixler. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-life-in-metal-a-future-for-his-son-shaun-glass

Every donation goes into the Maddux Glass Irrevocable Trust. Shaun's medical and final expenses are paid from it first, but the heart of this fund is Maddux, giving him the education, stability, and future his father always wanted for him. That future is protected in this trust, permanent, and something no one can ever take from him.

If Shaun ever made you feel like family, connected you to someone, or picked up the phone when you needed him, this is the moment to give back a fraction of what he gave so many of us for free.

Shaun Glass made thousands of people feel like they mattered. Now it's our turn to make sure his son knows he mattered too.

Check out the interview below I had done with him in person way back in 2009 when he was in DIRGE WITHIN! - 

American Deathcore band Orgasmic Savage released their new single "Sacrificial Betrayal" from the band's upcoming album. The release was recorded by Darrell Young and mixed/mastered by Paul Francis over at GetRight Recordings Studio.

Check out the new single linked below:

https://orgasmicsavage.bandcamp.com/track/sacrificial-betrayal-3

https://open.spotify.com/album/01MwDRqiIr8kFU4FCWOsyB

Formed in Redford, Michigan, in April 2024 by guitarist Darrell Young, Orgasmic Savage expanded a year later into a full lineup driven by sheer passion. The band delivers a dark, gritty, horror-infused, and nasty sonic experience that completely lives up to its name. Their raw creative process is heavily fueled by substance use, famously culminating in their latest single, "Prelude To Assimilation". 

American Power/Heavy Metal band Ageless Warrior released their debut album "Unifier". The release was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Micah Devereaux in his home studio.

Check out the new album linked below:

https://agelesswarrior.bandcamp.com/album/unifier

https://open.spotify.com/album/2aEYJnGSqAYLj7HGRn64FJ

Formed in the Twin Cities in 2018 by founding members Micah Devereaux and Jeff Igelsrud, Ageless Warrior was born as a defiant middle finger to traditional metal elitists. Blending heavy and power metal with a tongue-in-cheek edge, the band debuted with 2018’s "Defy The Ages" and quickly built major local live momentum. Though the pandemic later forced the band onto ice and shelved their follow-up album "Unifier", Ageless Warrior’s unique style remains a fierce proof of concept, rooted in their desire to shake-up more traditional metal by mixing old school and new.

Bulgarian Pagan Black/Folk Metal band Tsar Stangra released their new album "Hymns of the Broken Worlds" on GlobMetal Promotions. The release is recorded at "Holywaves Studios", mixed by Stanislav Stefanovski, and mastered by Olivier Vaillancourt-Girard.

Check out the new album linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJoSTFkBCnY

https://tsarstangra.bandcamp.com/album/--6

https://open.spotify.com/album/7CbqPhgHPB1CC2GvdOVMaT

Tsar Stangra (Цар Стангра) is a Bulgarian pagan black/folk metal project founded in 2007 in Quebec City, Canada, evolving from a solo vision into a full band in 2014. Blending extreme metal with Bulgarian mythology and tradition, the band gained underground recognition through early releases and the debut album "Небесният ковач" (The Heavenly Blacksmith). Tsar Stangra has performed at events like Messe des Morts and Skogen Fest alongside Graveland and Tormentor, and opened for Arkona in their hometown. The band returns with the ambitious second album "Химните на разрушените светове" (Hymns of the Broken Worlds).

American Black Metal band Antithetic released their debut album "Kadath". The release was recorded, mixed and mastered in "Gavett Hall Studios" by Mikhail Amrayev and William Seastrand.

Check out the debut album linked below:

https://antithetic.bandcamp.com/album/kadath

https://open.spotify.com/album/1cg6wd7OnY5cExsrstVIni

Formed in Rochester, NY, by Hauras (lead guitar/vocals/synths) and Surma (guitar), alongside Nøkken (bass) and drummers Onidaiko and Andrew Dewar, Antithetic is a melodic black metal project blending aggressive Finnish and Russian traditions with grandeur and sorrow. Performing with concealed faces, the band shifts focus from personality to raw ritual. Driven by a central tension of beauty and violence, frost and fire, they deliver a cinematic, multilingual descent through Lovecraftian dreamlands, cosmic horror, and a medieval sense of dread that channels the influence of Dissection and Horna.

Finnish Doom Metal band Majestas Regia has released their debut self-titled EP. The release was recorded at "Clock Bridge Studios" by H., mixed by Majestas Regia and mastered by Valo Elios.

Check out the debut EP linked below:

https://majestasregia.bandcamp.com/album/majestas-regia-majestas-regia

Jamming since 2018, the veteran lineup of Mika S. (guitar/vocals), Markus W. (guitar/vocals), and Ilmari J. (drums) officially debuted as Majestas Regia in 2026. Rooted in '80s/'90s underground tape-trading culture, the trio retools classic riffs into grand, dark doom metal. Bringing decades of experience from cult Finnish acts (including Defection, Mindgrind, TIMB3R, Slugathor, Azazel, and Witchtiger) and underground fests like "Finnish Death Metal Maniacs" and gigs of "Metal Warning", the members blend influences from Black Sabbath and Candlemass with extreme black metal and slow death to create a sound of cold, decaying grandeur.

Madness of Sorrow have released a new video on their YouTube channel for the track "Infernal Ascension", the third single taken from their latest studio effort, "The Silent Sovereign", which was released in late 2025 via Ad Noctem Records. Check it out HERE.

The massive Hall of Shadows dark zone returns to Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, featuring a monstrous array of haunted attractions, photo ops, and live entertainment August 7 to August 9 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Passes for this year’s show are on sale now at MidsummerScream.com.

With the 2026 Hall of Shadows theme of “Descent Into Darkness,” guests are invited to venture beyond the veil into a world of perpetual nightfall, where the most ambitious collection of haunted attractions in Midsummer Scream’s history have been assembled. Creating the entry portal experience this year is Eulogy Collective, Southern California’s only year-round haunted attraction. With each step deeper into the hall, guests will encounter vignettes and characters from its various seasonal overlays, each more twisted and macabre than the other.

Universal Horror Unleashed is bringing the heat from Las Vegas with a terrifying character encounter that marks the attraction’s blood-soaked debut at Midsummer Scream. Guests will get up-close-and-personal with some of the attraction’s most infamous icons.

Lionsgate Entertainment returns for their third year with an all-new walk-through attraction, inviting guests deep into the woods, where they’ll come face-to-face with an ancient evil.

All passes for Midsummer Scream include admission to every attraction in the Hall of Shadows. Guests holding Gold Bat VIP credentials will enjoy priority access to most attractions in the Hall of Shadows, bypassing General Admission standby queues. Hall of Shadows will be open to guests all three days of Midsummer Scream — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 7 to August 9.

“I sound like a broken record every summer,” says Rick West, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Midsummer Scream. “But yet again, this year’s Hall of Shadows is absolutely the most intense and ambitious lineup of haunts and attractions we’ve ever assembled at Midsummer Scream. It’s so exciting to welcome the team from Universal Horror Unleashed — this is the first time we’ve hosted an attraction from Las Vegas; a very important bridge between the SoCal and Southern Nevada haunt communities. Of course, we’re also thrilled to have Lionsgate returning with a brand-new walk-through for fans to experience. Our friends at Eulogy Collective will set the tone for everyone’s descent into the darkness and fog-filled belly of the beast, where fans will find more than 15 unique attractions created by some of the most talented haunters anywhere in the world.”

Within the darkened expanse of the Hall of Shadows, guests can explore an incredible assortment of haunted attractions, chilling displays, thrilling photo ops, and live entertainment that include:

•  A visit to the Hawkins National Laboratory for some photographic fun provided by Rawl of the Dead

•  A terrifying witch hunt through a cursed forest led by H&L’s Realm of Horror

•  Kooky, spooky home haunt fun with the return of Clowns v Skeletons

•  A shot of fear and a round of terror as guests explore a ramshackle Floridian distillery presented by Straite to Hale

•  The eerie, hallowed grounds of a long-forgotten Celtic graveyard known as The Haunt With No Name… Yet

•  The Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Bar, serving up spooky libations for guests 21 and older, in the glow of dozens of grinning gourds, courtesy of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment

•  A blood-sucking horde hidden away for generations within a dilapidated manor from Fear Farm

•  Another go-around with your favorite soapy and sudsy monsters from The Haunted Carwash

•  A totally tubular romp through an old movie theater showcasing some of the best horror flicks of the 1980s, presented by The Dreich Society

•  A chilling exploration through whisper-filled halls of the Shadows Hollow Asylum, created by Realm of Shadow

•  The continued twisted cinematic misadventures of Sid from Toy Story, from Monclova Media Group

•  And an abandoned old morgue where forgotten souls refuse to decay in silence, from Black Casket Productions.

The Decayed Brigade returns to Long Beach with three days of slider exhibitions that must be seen to be believed. Fans of all ages gather each year in the Hall of Shadows to witness this epic display of inhuman agility and terrifying precision. Midsummer Scream guests can catch this world-class sliding team on Friday night, followed by three shows daily both Saturday and Sunday.

All of this and more await within the fog-filled corridors of the Hall of Shadows, as fans dying to get in pry open the doors to Midsummer Scream the evening of Friday August 7, in Long Beach.

Guests will want to plan their weekend in advance -- “like” panels and presentations, as well as attractions they’re interested in, connect with fellow fans, and browse hundreds of vendors with the official Midsummer Scream app, now available as a free download in the Apple and Android stores.

For breaking information about Midsummer Scream, sign up for our digital newsletter at MidsummerScream.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook by searching @midsummerscream.

About Midsummer Scream

Midsummer Scream is presented by David Markland (Co-Founder/Executive Director), Gary Baker (Co-Founder/Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Co-Founder/Producer), and Rick West (Co-Founder/Creative Director). Their goal is to showcase the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror communities as a welcoming beacon for fans around the world to converge on Los Angeles for a weekend of excitement, networking, and non-stop spooky fun.

French symphonic power metal band HARTLIGHT have released not one but two albums, and an EP. With a third full-length underway, expected sometime this next year, the band plans to just prepare for it's release, then go forth to play live and see where it goes. Releasing music, is the main focus for them at this time, but playing live isn't that far behind, the band discusses with us how they came together, the music released, and all of the rest.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that? 

We settled on the name Hartlight after a long period of reflection. To us, it evokes a powerful light that casts an equally powerful shadow. This image embodies the duality and contradictions of human nature, and the journey toward truth, freedom, and healing. We believe that only by facing both light and shadow can we move closer to wholeness.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We wanted to play symphonic power metal because it is a genre that allows a great deal of freedom. It gives us the possibility to create unique and highly cinematic atmospheres, and to convey images of hope and strength. It is a musical style that can range from something very gothic and very frightening to something very bright and evocative of a fantastical and glorious nature.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The four of us already knew each other before forming this band, and that is actually one of the reasons we chose to do this together. We wanted to make the most of our time at concerts by spending it with friends, enjoying a good atmosphere, and sharing a sense of camaraderie. The bond between us is an integral part of our experience as a metal band.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based in France, spread between the north and the south of the country. We have a loyal French audience, but people still find it difficult to travel to concerts. And if we could recommend a band, we would choose Oïkoumen. They are very good friends of ours, and they create music that is truly sincere, progressive, and very interesting.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

As for the lyrics, I am inspired by the arts in the broadest sense of the word, by philosophy, by my life experiences, and by esotericism—everything that relates to the sensitive and intangible world. As for the music, Adrien is inspired by all kinds of bands and musical influences, whether they come from musical theatre, metal, classical music, film scores, or any other genre. He is inspired by the music he listens to and that moves him emotionally.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Our songs share a common thread: Alchemy. To us, Alchemy is the ability to transcend oneself in both mind and body - to move from one state of being to another, becoming something entirely different, in a process of healing and liberation. This idea runs through all of our songs. To express it, we make extensive use of imagery, symbolism, and esoteric and alchemical poetry. It can be a sense of wonder in the face of nature, rejection, solitude, anger, hatred, a fascination for what lies beyond the visible, sadness and empowerment.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

I am entirely responsible for the lyrics, working on them on my own, in my own space. Adrien is responsible for the composition and orchestration, also working independently, in his own creative space, while incorporating riffs and ideas contributed by everyone in the band. This is the approach we have followed so far, including for the third album.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We have released a first EP called "From Midland and Beyond", a first album called "As Above, So Below", and a second album called "The Triumph of Metal". We are currently working on our third album, which will be released next year. These are the main things we have accomplished during roughly the first two years of our band’s existence.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

This new album will be an epic journey set in a fantasy world, populated by fantastical creatures and centered around a heroine. Throughout a quest for revenge, she will encounter individuals who will play a decisive role in her journey. The story will explore themes such as recovery and society, while remaining rooted in the concept of alchemy, which is embodied and made tangible within this world.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

As for dates and touring, we will not announce anything before everything is fully confirmed, as we are completely self-produced and self-managed. We are therefore the ones who also book our own shows. What we can say is that we will continue to play live dates, and that this year we will be performing at the Symphonic Metal Echoes Festival in Romania in August. It will be a great road trip for us, and we hope to meet you there.

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

For the end of this year, we will be preparing a release plan. We are currently working on the preparation of our third album, which includes the album artwork, merchandising, promotion, as well as the mixing and mastering of the record, which for the first time will be handled by someone outside the band. So, at the moment, it is about preparing - both in the shadows and in a more visible way - what is to come.

12. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can find our YouTube channel, where you will discover many music videos that we have created ourselves. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with our journeys and concerts. Our website allows you to purchase tickets for upcoming shows, and our merch is available on Bandcamp, which can be accessed via the link on our website! Thank you for this interview. We hope to see you very soon at a concert! :D

Up and coming solo artist POWER ROB became a project out of another project, which would grow into him releasing music, playing shows, and touring. Rob himself talks about his music releases, further plans, and more!

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that? 

For Power Rob it came from a joke between myself and the other half of my other project Megatronix, Robbie. We brought up how I performed, liked power metal and he liked darker metal, so he was Dark Rob and I was Power Rob. We went with those names when Megatronix was launched, I was approached by a pop label to launch a solo project and went with what I called myself in the other project so there was synergy.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I did metal/rock for years and then stumbled onto synthwave around 2015 and became a major fan. As a writer I try to write music I would want to listen to, not what I can make, and I happen to like synthwave a lot.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Power Rob is a solo project, might be best skipping this one. lol

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I'm based out of Baltimore, it's a decent music scene, synthwave is growing here. Years ago I'd say the music scene really hit a peak thanks to 98 Rock's Noise in the Basement, these days my projects focus more out of the region so I'm not too keen on how the local scene is these days.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I don't really get inspired to write per se, ideas just kind of come out of the blue or I have an instrumental sent over to me. It's very rare I write because of something that inspires me to do so, the last time I guess that occurred was when a label had a meeting with me and told me the kind of music they'd want me to write. I got the idea in my head, sat down and banged it out.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

With solo material a lot of songs are about romance, I try to capture the essence of classic 80s pop songs but to do so earnestly while other songs like Dark Star are about personal perseverance I've had over my adult life as an artist. The songs I do with Battlejuice vary, one song is about Freddy Krueger, another about recent events in Russia, while another is about the addictive elements of social media.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, for the most part. Aside from covers and one original I write all of my vocals, sometimes I collaborate with producers while for many songs I write the music as well.

If it's a collab I'll listen to the original, map the melodies out, figure out what syllables enhance the melody then from there fill out words and then a theme. The most important aspect of a vocal line is the melody itself; the words must serve this above all else.

If I write music usually it's because an idea hits me out of the blue, I sing the melody to my voice recorder app then later take the idea to FL studio and build it via MIDI, after that I construct the rest of the notes by ear.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Everything? That's a list, at least two dozen albums, here's the main ones that are still available.

Aries - Rise (Album)

Thrillkiller - Showdown (Album)

Thrillkiller - San Francisco Moto (EP)

Megatronix - Powerwave (Album)

Megatronix - Limitbreaker (EP)

Power Rob - Runaway (EP)

Power Rob - Monsterman (Album)

Power Rob - So Alive (feat. Elevate the Sky, Single)

Ehrah - A Little Time(feat. Power Rob

Ends 84 - Thunder (feat. Power Rob)

Miami Nights 1984 - This Christmas (feat. Power Rob)

Power Rob - Dark Star (Album)

Battlejuice x Power Rob - The Edge of Death (Single)

Battlejuice x Power Rob - Roll the Old Chariot Along (Single)

Battlejuice x Power Rob - Love to Hate (Single)

Power Rob x Night Rider 87 - Phantoms (Single)

Power Rob - Gettin' Heavy (feat. Fulvio Colasanto, Single)

Megatronix - Invisible (Single)

Megatronix - Shot in the Dark (Single)

Megatronix - Blood Red Skies (Single)

There's a bunch of others but that's a good list.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes, I have an EP I'll be announcing soon, I'm also going to be featured on two upcoming albums as well as a new collab with Battlejuice.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I had a show not that long ago at Reclaim Arcade in Virginia, which will be followed by more shows that will be announced soon.

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

Releasing new music, booking tour dates, teaching vocal lessons online and from my home studio near Baltimore.

12. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Most of my socials use the handle PowerRobMusic, Power Rob is super easy to find on Google too!