Lookaway

Lookaway is the song that closes Roots, the album where Sepultura dove into Brazilian rhythms to create something that sounded like jungle and metal at the same time. It’s not a track that moves in a straight line: it begins with a dry, almost tribal drum hit, then unfolds into layers of percussion that intertwine like vines in a forest. Paulo Jr.’s bass draws deep lines that dig into the ground, while Andreas Kisser and Max Cavalera’s guitars weave melodies that rise and fall like waves. What stands out most is how the song breathes: there are moments when everything stops, only to return with greater force, as if the rhythm itself had a life of its own.Recorded in the United States but with the soul of Brazil in every note, Lookaway emerged from an experiment.

Sepultura had already explored Latin sounds in Chaos A.D., but here they went further: they invited Carlinhos Brown to guide the percussion sections, blending indigenous drums with industrial drum beats. Engineers Rob Agnello, Chuck Johnson, and Richard Kaplan layered the recording patiently, letting mistakes—or unexpected successes—remain on the tape. The mix, handled by Steve Sisco and Andy Wallace, gave it that raw, organic feel that makes the track sound alive. It lasted five minutes and twenty-six seconds, but within that time, centuries of history fit.