Sepultura had great success as a thrash band and had a few great records under their belt. Then in 1996 the band decided to take a different approach to their new album. The sound for Roots was guttural, raw and tribal. It was a departure from what they had done in the past, and was a journey into the jungles of Brazil.
In order to achieve the new sound, beats were influenced by the indigenous music of Brazil. The guitars were outfitted with grittier, muddy, passive pickups – replacing the holy grail of thrash pickups, the EMG 81, and everyone played and sung around the groove of the song. When you listen to this record the rhythm is what drives it, it is a return to the bonfire and the banging of the drum.
With all of these influences front and centre the record still retains the heart and soul of the Sepultura sound. The result is a concept album that is enjoyed by even the most critical of fans. This record celebrated syncopated tribal rhythms that sounded heavy as hell without the need for breakneck speed. The worship of groove on this record went on to influence a great number of bands and albums to follow. This record added a color to the palate of metal, and people continue to paint with it. This album is voodoo magic
