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Roots 1996
Album · by Sepultura ↗ View artist

Roots

When Sepultura released Roots in Europe on February 20, 1996, and three weeks later in the United States, it marked a turning point. This work, the band's sixth studio album, delved deeply into Brazil's musical textures, exploring slower rhythms and a strong Latin influence that was already hinted at in Chaos A.D.. One of the most notable collaborations was with Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown, who contributed arrangements and guided the percussion sections, giving the album a distinctive sonic richness. The overall aesthetic of Roots also turned towards the indigenous populations and cultures of Brazil, a conscious nod that resonated in the choice of sounds and themes. The track Itsári, for example, included a Xavante chant that reappeared in Born Stubborn, creating a common thread for an album that demonstrated a growing affinity for experimentation and collaboration.

Year
1996
Songs
17
Duration
77 min 30 seg
Listen to the album ★

17 song|s

Song list

# Title Available ⏱
01

Roots Bloody Roots

Easy

3:32 02

Attitude

Intermediate

4:15 03

Cut‐Throat

Intermediate

2:45 04

Ratamahatta

Intermediate

4:31 05

Breed Apart

Intermediate

4:01 06

Straighthate

Intermediate

5:22 07

Spit

Intermediate

2:46 08

Lookaway

Intermediate

5:26 09

Dusted

Intermediate

4:04 10

Born Stubborn

Intermediate

4:08 11

Jasco

1:58 12

Itsári

Intermediate

4:49 13

Ambush

Intermediate

4:39 14

Endangered Species

Intermediate

5:20 15

Dictatorshit

Easy

1:25 16

Chaos B.C.

Intermediate

5:13 17

Canyon Jam

Intermediate

13:16

About the album

Roots, according to DoReSol

The recording of Roots, which took place between October and December 1995 at Indigo Ranch studios in Malibu, California, was characterized not only by its focus on Brazilian roots but also by the inclusion of prominent guests. Lookaway featured the participation of Jonathan Davis (Korn's vocalist), David Silveria (Korn's drummer at the time), DJ Lethal (from House of Pain/Limp Bizkit), and Mike Patton (vocalist for Faith No More and Mr. Bungle). Musically, the album also reflected the influence of the emerging nu metal movement, particularly from bands like Korn and Deftones, whose early works shared a producer with Roots in the figure of Ross Robinson. After his departure from Sepultura, Max Cavalera continued to explore these styles with his project Soulfly.

Roots became a milestone, selling over two million copies worldwide and reaching number 27 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most commercially successful album. The inspiration for this particular sound came from a deep desire to embrace Brazilian heritage, including indigenous sounds that were previously unfamiliar to the members of Sepultura. The main idea emerged after watching the film At Play in the Fields of the Lord, which inspired Max Cavalera to seek recording with a native Brazilian tribe. After obtaining the support of Roadrunner Records, and with the help of Angela Pappiani, communications coordinator for the Indigenous Culture Center of Brazil, a trip to Mato Grosso was organized to visit the Xavante tribe. The album cover, featuring an image of an indigenous woman from a Brazilian Cruzeiro banknote, was intervened by artist Michael Whelan, who added a medallion with Sepultura's tribal logo and a background of red roots, visually encapsulating the essence of the record.