Most Sepultura fans would probably agree their glory years came prior to 1996’s Roots, which proved to be their final studio album with founding vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera. And, in this critic’s opinion, they are probably right (that prior 3-album run of Beneath the Remains, Arise, and Chaos A.D. is indeed quite formidable/legendary), but have said that Roots was certainly no slouch in its own right. Sure, it doesn’t get as much love from traditional metal-heads due to its stripped-down (Korn-influenced) flavor, but by leaning into their tribal/experimental tendencies at the time, the band produced probably the most unique and distinctive album of the entire Cavalera-era.
This footage of the band performing “Attitude” in the studio, complete with the instrumental tribal jam opening (which, of course, features the berimbau…not to mention the grooviest hippy dude of all time on the bongos) captures the raw experimental essence of Roots-era Sepultura brilliantly. Not exactly traditional metal by any stretch (it’s a lot cooler than that):
