Roots (Sepultura album)

Roots
The focus of the cover is the bust of an Amazonian tribesman with native-style facial tattoos and a large number of bead necklaces, including one with a pendant of the band's "S"-shaped logo. The tattoos are mostly line-based with bilateral symmetry but there are two circular designs below the eyes and another ring-like design below his right eye. The necklaces have the same design which consists of mostly white beads but occasionally a green or red bead with black beads adjacent. The bust is actually split in two as the man's neck is transparent, allowing the background to be seen, which consists of a network of arteries in red on a black background. The band name "SEPULTURA" and the album name "ROOTS" appear at the top in an uppercase font (the first filled in and the second in outline) while in-between is the tattoo design that very closely matches the one under the man's left eye.
Studio album by
Sepultura
Released
  • February 20, 1996 (Europe)
  • March 12, 1996 (U.S.)
RecordedOctober–December 1995
StudioIndigo Ranch Studios (Malibu, California)
Genre
Length72:08
LabelRoadrunner
ProducerRoss Robinson
Sepultura chronology
Chaos A.D.
(1993) 		Roots
(1996) 		Against
(1998)
Singles from Roots
  1. "Roots Bloody Roots"
    Released: February 18, 1996
  2. "Attitude"
    Released: June 1996
  3. "Ratamahatta"
    Released: October 1996

Roots is the sixth studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura. It was released in Europe on February 20, 1996 (1996-02-20) and in the U.S. three weeks later on March 12 by Roadrunner Records. It is the band's last studio album to feature founding member and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Max Cavalera, who left the band in late 1996 while the band was on tour to promote the album.

Following the shift to slower tempos and Latin-tinged rhythms on the album Chaos A.D., Roots delves even further into Brazilian musical textures and features significant contributions from iconic Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown, who guided and arranged the sections throughout the album that feature ensemble percussion playing. Both in sound and overall aesthetic, Roots is also a conscious nod to Brazil's marginalized indigenous population and cultures. The song "Itsári" features a Xavante chant that re-appears on the song "Born Stubborn" and serves as a loose thematic thread for the whole album, which on the whole showcases the band's increased affinity for experimentation and collaboration.

"Lookaway" features guest appearances by Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, then-Korn drummer David Silveria, House of Pain/Limp Bizkit turntablist DJ Lethal, and Faith No More/Mr. Bungle vocalist Mike Patton. Riff-wise, Roots also draws influence from the then-surging nu metal movement, specifically Korn (whose first two albums were also produced by Roots producer Ross Robinson) and Deftones.[1][2] After leaving the band, Max Cavalera would continue to pursue the nu metal and "world" stylings of Roots with his solo project Soulfly.

Since its release, Roots has sold over two million copies worldwide.[3][4]

  1. ^ "IGOR CAVALERA Admits KORN Influence On SEPULTURA's 'Roots' But Says 'There Was A Lot More Going On'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  2. ^ "JONATHAN DAVIS Recalls Thinking SEPULTURA's 'Roots' Album Was 'Blatant KORN Rip-Off'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  3. ^ "Max & Iggor Cavalera to Perform Sepultura's 'Roots' Album in Full on North American Tour". Loudwire.com. 29 July 2016.
  4. ^ Dehò, Maurício (19 March 2016). "Há 20 anos, visita a índios e choque cultural criavam clássico do Sepultura". UOL (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Folha. Retrieved 3 November 2020.