SEPULTURA Celebrate 30 Years Of Landmark Sixth Album ‘Roots’

Today marks the 30th anniversary of SEPULTURA’s groundbreaking sixth studio album Roots, originally released on February 20, 1996. Produced by the legendary Ross Robinson and recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, the record stands as one of the most influential and fearless releases in heavy music history.

With Roots, SEPULTURA shattered expectations. Expanding beyond thrash foundations, the band fused downtuned aggression with tribal rhythms, groove-driven structures, and raw emotional intensity. A pivotal moment in the album’s creation came when the band visited and recorded with the Xavante tribe in Brazil, incorporating indigenous chants and percussive elements that gave the record a cultural depth and authenticity rarely heard in metal at the time.

The album produced era-defining tracks that remain staples to this day. “Roots Bloody Roots” became an anthem of groove-laden heaviness, while “Attitude,” “Ratamahatta,” and “Spit” showcased the band’s rhythmic innovation and uncompromising edge. “Lookaway” further expanded the album’s reach, featuring guest appearances from Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, then-Korn drummer David Silveria, House of Pain and Limp Bizkit turntablist DJ Lethal, and Faith No More/Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton — a collaboration that embodied the genre-blurring spirit of the mid-’90s heavy scene.

Three decades later, Roots remains a cornerstone release — not just in SEPULTURA’s catalog, but in the evolution of modern metal itself. Its fearless experimentation, cultural integration, and crushing grooves continue to influence generations of artists worldwide.