As Paradise Falls Guitarist Glen Barrie Passes Away Aged 26

Queensland-bred musician Glen Barrie, best known for his role as guitarist in cult-fave hardcore ensemble As Paradise Falls, has passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 26, it has been reported.

Barrie's passing has been made all the more tragic considering its circumstances: the guitarist had been in Thailand with his fellow members in As Paradise Falls, recording the band's debut album at Thailand's Karma Sound Studios, as well as looking forward to playing alongside Melburnian scene icons I Killed The Prom Queen in Bangkok at a show scheduled for last night.

The news was confirmed publicly this morning by band managers Mannequin Republic, who wrote: "Words cannot describe how heavy our hearts are upon learning about Glen's passing … Our thoughts and condolences go out to Glen's family and in particular his amazing wife Cass. RIP Glen."

In a heartbreaking public Facebook post, Barrie's wife Cassandra — who is pregnant with their unborn son — explained that her husband simply "went to bed and just never woke up".

"Glen was in Thailand with his band living the dream!" she wrote. "They were recording at a prestigious studio and having an amazing time.

"He rang me every single day and was so happy and excited to be fulfilling one of his dreams and every day he also told me of how he wanted to come home to be with me and his soon-to-be-born baby boy!" 

News of Barrie's passing continues to spread through the local heavy-music community, with a growing number of contemporaries offering their condolences and expressing their grief across social media this morning, while a GoFundMe page has been set up to provide financial support for Cassandra and the pair's son, having raised a shade under $10,000 overnight.

our deepest condolences go out to the dudes in As Paradise Falls

— KYFP (@kyfp_band) November 11, 2015

Got to play some shows with As Paradise Falls last year, and to wake up to hearing about one of their guitarists passing away kills me

— Jerb (@Jerb2k12) November 11, 2015

Rest In Peace beautiful man. May your soul live on through the sounds of @asparadisefalls x https://t.co/p24XPW7K8a pic.twitter.com/cT7qHUQKNW

— ktbsays (@ktbsaysrelax) November 12, 2015