Chuck Schuldiners Frozen Cover Surfaces Online

A long-lost instrumental cover of Madonna's 1998 single "Frozen" by death metal pioneer Chuck Schuldiner has emerged online, offering fans a rare glimpse into the late musician's creative process during his final years.

Schuldiner, the founder of the influential band Death and the progressive metal group Control Denied, recorded the track in his bedroom using his B.C. Rich Stealth guitar and a drum machine. The demo, shared this week by his nephew Chris Steele on the official Death Instagram page, dates back to the early stages of Schuldiner's battle with brain cancer. Steele posted a video of himself playing the recording through his car stereo, revealing a haunting rendition that captures the song's ethereal, Middle Eastern-influenced melody through Schuldiner's distinctive guitar work. The piece runs longer than the original, extending its three-minute length with intricate arrangements that highlight his virtuosic playing.

"Found this today going through some things," Steele wrote in the post. "Chuck recorded this in the early stages of his battle with cancer. I remember it well. Chuck sitting in his bedroom with his Stealth and a drum machine. I'm not sure how many people...