Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Looking at the cover, you would think one thing. Then the first song starts and it’s not what you expected. The second song are worth the listen especially to get yourself moving on a morning walk
Bueno
РУУУУТС БЛААААДІІІІ РУУУУТС. В мій нюметал період я ніколи прям не заслуховувася Сепультурою. В них безаперечно є стиль і щільність, яку я любив в такій музиці. Але на такий довгий альбом не вистачає пісень-гачків. В головному хіті, та й по всьому альбому, перкусія реально тащить. Кавелера клоун ще той звичайно, але вже як є. Я б поставив 3.5.
Мазафакерський період сепультури це звісно вагома частина моїх старших класів, ми тоді це слухали, вчились грати рутс бладі руст і етітьюд на гітарі і все таке. Об'єктивно це період в них слабше за класичні треш альбоми, але шось є в цьому трайбал нюметалі, який далі переріс в соулфлай. Макс Кавалера звісно дурачок, але цей альбом я в принципі все одно люблю, хоча він і затягнутий занадто.
3.5 I actually kinda liked it
Harsh vocals is an acquired taste. World music influences is an acquired taste too. sadly I didn’t acquire either of them. but generally 3/5.
An interesting metal/nu-metal album. Not a big nu-metal fan and it goes a bit long, but the Brazilian twist to the genre and all of the ambient/instrumentals are a highlight
need to revisit, wasn't in the mood for it
I know I'm gonna sound like an old man by saying this album was a bit too loud and shouty/screamy for me. I know they are a respected metal band, but its just not my thing. I appreciate their musicianship, but wouldn't actively listen to it.
Dig the music, but can not stand that guttural vocal style. It reminds me of that douchey kid you knew in HS that would scream like that because he thought it would intimidate his bullies, but everyone just laughed instead.
This is a very unique album, and I find it fascinating for its inclusion of traditional music of the Xavante people. The album wears its Brazilian influences on its sleeve as well, which elevates this above a lot of other nu metal. All in all, this isn't my favorite genre of music, but I do love the cultural mash-up, and have to give this album major props for its original elements. Favorite track: "Ratamahatta" for its fusion of metal and traditional components
Jak na mnie co nie słucham metalu to całkiem fajne brzmienie to ma.
Cool album
I remember listening to a bit of Sepultura in the 90s. But these days it's far too heavy for my tastes and I can't get on with the Cookie Monster vocals, but it is a highly competent thrash album with a complex set of sounds and influences. Not sure I'll get all the way through it though... I gave it about five tracks in the end and then I couldn't cope with it any longer
ROOOOOTS BLOODY ROOOOOTS
Very samey
Not a metal fan but had to respect the innovation on this album. But way too long and repetitive.
I don’t mind heavy metal music, but it does tend to sound very samesy to me. But I liked the sound of this one. I still am not enough of a metal head to really diverge it from other artists in the genre but I enjoyed the instruments in this album as well as the general sound. 3 stars I just can't get into heavy metal, the vocals are too grating and end up sounding cringey. Backing tracks were great though, would like the instrumental version a lot more. Songs had a really good flow between them too, not a fan of the end song though. 3 star as well
great
7/10 not really into metal but I could bump it in my rotation
Not for me but different.
Straighthate
A hard one to rate. It reminds me of college when my room mate listened to Sepultura and I never got why he liked it. I like the music and the rainforest vibe but the singing remains too much for me.
I don’t know if it should, but this reminds me of Korn. Over all it sounds good. The songs themselves weren’t always my favorite but nothing bad.
I like the energy and the incorporation of, for lack of a better word, tribal elements. Harder than what I usually listen to, but not bad!
Roots Bloody Roots // Breed Apart // 2.5/5
Death metal is not exactly my wheelhouse, but I could tell this is some of the good stuff. There were definitely a few nonsense songs for me, but overall pretty cool. Best Track: Straighthate
So I waited to listen to this until I had a rage day. And it was perfect. Particularly enjoyed the drums
The rhythm section reminds me of some good Rage Against the Machine songs. The Brazilian percussion and chanting are the best parts. This is not for me, but I appreciate the production on this.
I enjoyed this. I had never heard of this band before, and I’m not much of a metalhead, but I was definitely animated by this album. I don’t see myself listening to it regularly, but it would be great at the gym.
Grei jobbemusikk
Almost conceptual metal as its mixed in with Brazilian percussion, and it chugs along at a breakneck pace. Much better than I thought it was going to be after the last Sepultura album I had.
Ok
Competent metal with a unique Brazilian roots perspective.
Funny that the best track is the hidden track
I enjoyed it despite the noise, it would have been better without the squeaking.
The music here is quite good but the screaming vocals I just can't get past. I always suspect some bands resort to this to increase the intensity of the music because they just don't have confidence in the lyrics and a more standard delivery they could though 3.5*
6.1
Solid
Honestly didn’t hate it. Metal isn’t really my thing and it was a bit long but at least it was unique
Good
I liked some of the influences brought into the genre here. Vocals were a little tough at times. Not bad, but nothing super interesting either. 3/5 Might listen again
Honestly, had fun with this. Still not as bad as most modern metal.
Heavy metal with some screaming, also a lot of tribal sounds/percussion, better than expected, may use some as pump up music
Never heard of album or band. Good guitar/drums in first song. You’ll never convince me that screaming into the mic like this is talent. With that being said the songwriting isn’t bad. Ending is really cool. Attitude is a very apt name. I like this one. Cut throat is fine. The background tracks have been really good throughout so far I just don’t like the vocals. Rattamahatta is more shouting. More good guitar. Breed apart is crazy in a good way. Makes me want to rage. Straighthate is 🔥🔥🔥. Best one so far. I’m liking this album and subsequently the genre as a whole more and more as I hear more. Spit was fine nothing special but not bad. Lookaway is really cool/unique. Layered guitars is so cool. Ending is a little unnecessary. Dusted is pretty good not the best not the worst. I like born stubborn a lot. Great guitar/drums. Solo is 🔥🔥. Jasco is so so refreshing. Incredible bridge into the last third of the album. Incredible range to go from heavy metal shouting into the mic to making great music like jasco and itsari. Hard to put into to words what I like about these songs but they are just good listens. Back to regularly scheduled programming with ambush. Can’t help but nod along to the guitar riff. Really catchy lyrics too. Not sure abt the back half. Endangered species 🔥🔥. Guitars are insane throughout. Dictator shit was fine. Interesting start to canyon jam. Interesting all the way through. So different from the rest of the album. Not great but not horrible. Overall I enjoyed the album more than expected. Made me appreciate heavy metal a lot more. 3.3 stars
Nice riffs, a bit too heavy for me
3.5
Similar review to Arise. Everything is great apart from the vocals. Not a metal fan by any stretch, but this does sound mostly great.
Bon, installez-vous, on va parler d’un monument. Enfin, d’un "monument"… disons plutôt d’un gros monolithe un peu boueux planté au milieu des années 90. On est en 1996, à cette époque, je bosse déjà au magasin, je trie des imports de Godflesh et je m’explose les tympans avec du John Zorn en tentant d’expliquer à des clients pourquoi The Great Annihilator des Swans est essentiel à leur survie mentale. Et là, débarque "Roots" de Sepultura. La pochette, déjà... ce visage indigène, ces racines rouges sanguines, cette promesse d’un retour à la terre, au primal, au viscéral. Sur le papier, le concept avait de la gueule. Sepultura, les Brésiliens énervés qui nous avaient déjà bien secoués avec "Beneath the Remains" et surtout l’excellent "Chaos A.D.", décident de pousser le curseur "tribal" à fond. Ils vont carrément enregistrer avec la tribu Xavante au fin fond de l'Amazonie, cest "Tintin chez les Picaros" version Thrash Metal. L’idée de mélanger le folklore brésilien, les percussions ancestrales et la grosse distorsion moderne, ça aurait pu donner un chef-d'œuvre d'avant-garde... Sauf que non. On va être clair tout de suite : "Roots", c’est l’album du "BOUM BOUM". C’est l’album qui a décidé que la subtilité était un concept bourgeois surfait et que ce dont le monde avait besoin, c’était d’une guitare accordée tellement bas que les cordes devaient pendouiller comme des spaghettis trop cuits. Dès l'intro, "Roots Bloody Roots", on comprend le délire. C'est lourd... Ah ça, pour être lourd, c'est lourd. Il y a une puissance indéniable, je ne vais pas mentir. Ça groove, ça saute, ça donne envie de se taper la tête contre les murs ou de sauter partout comme un marsupilami sous amphétamines. Igor Cavalera, derrière ses fûts, c’est une machine de guerre, le mec ne tape pas sur sa batterie, il essaie de l'assassiner, et franchement, c'est le point fort du disque. Cette section rythmique, c’est un bulldozer. Mais voilà, passée la première claque, passé l’effet de surprise de ce son ultra-compressé (merci Ross Robinson, le producteur qui a globalement ruiné le métal des années 90 en accouchant du Nu-Metal), qu’est-ce qu’il reste ? Bah pas grand-chose. Et c’est là tout le problème pour mes oreilles sélectives. J’ai été élevé au post-punk, à la complexité, à la noirceur abyssale, aux structures déstructurées. J’aime quand la musique me raconte une histoire, quand elle me griffe, quand elle me caresse à rebrousse-poil. "Roots", lui, il se contente de me gueuler dessus en postillonnant. C'est binaire, c'est d'une simplicité qui frôle parfois l'insulte à l'intelligence musicale, on est face à des riffs néandertaliens, répétés ad nauseam. Max Cavalera a troqué ses riffs thrash tranchants comme des rasoirs pour des accords de puissance basiques, rythmiques, qui servent juste de tapis sonore pour ses vociférations. Et parlons-en, de l’héritage de cet album et c’est peut-être ça qui me rend le plus aigri avec le recul. "Roots", c’est la boîte de Pandore. En sortant ce disque, Sepultura a ouvert la porte à toute la vague Nu-Metal qui allait nous polluer les oreilles pendant dix ans. Sans "Roots", pas de Korn (ou du moins pas aussi gros), pas de Limp Bizkit, pas de tous ces groupes en survêtement Adidas qui sautent sur place en faisant des grimaces. Sepultura a validé le concept du "jump-da-fuck-up", cette idée que le métal devait être une musique de trampoline pour ados en colère contre leurs parents parce qu'ils n'ont pas eu la bonne console à Noël. Alors oui, il y a des percussions, des berimbau, des chants tribaux. C’est la caution "world music" du truc, mais est-ce que ça s’intègre vraiment ? Parfois, on a l’impression d’écouter deux disques en même temps : un documentaire National Geographic sur Arte et un groupe de métal qui répète dans la cave d'à côté. Les moments acoustiques, comme "Jasco" ou "Itsari", sont jolis, certes, mais ils font figure d'entractes bizarres au milieu d'un champ de bataille boueux. C'est de l'exotisme pour métalleux qui ne sont jamais sortis de leur banlieue. Je suis dur ? Peut-être. C'est mon côté "vieux con" qui a bossé en radio indé pendant que tout le monde s'extasiait là-dessus. Je reconnais l'impact, je reconnais l'énergie, je reconnais que sur scène, ça devait être une boucherie absolue. Mais musicalement, une fois que le disque s'arrête, qu'est-ce qu'on retient ? Le riff de "Roots Bloody Roots", peut-être celui de "Ratamahatta" parce qu'il est rigolo avec ses percus... et c'est tout. Le reste est un magma sonore indistinct, une grosse boule de colère marronnasse qui tourne en rond. C’est l’archétype de l’album "impact". Tu le prends en pleine face, tu dis "wouah", tu as un bleu, et le lendemain tu as oublié pourquoi tu as mal. "Roots" est un "one-night stand", c'est le coup d'un soir brutal et sans lendemain. Mais "Roots", c’est aussi le chant du cygne de la formation classique car Max Cavalera se barrera peu de temps après pour former Soulfly (qui, soyons honnêtes, est Roots partie 2, 3, 4, 5...), laissant le groupe continuer sans son âme. C'est la fin d'une époque, ka fin du Sepultura thrash/death intelligent et chirurgical, pour entrer dans l'ère du groove métal pataud. Donc, pour résumer mon sentiment mitigé : je ne peux pas mettre une sale note parce que la production est massive, que la démarche était audacieuse et qu'Igor Cavalera est un monstre sacré. Mais je ne peux pas non plus crier au génie devant une musique aussi primaire, qui a, à mon sens, mal vieilli et engendré des monstres musicaux bien pires qu'elle. C’est un 3 sur 5, c’est la moyenne. C’est l’album qu’on garde dans sa collection parce que "c’est historique", mais qu’on ne sort plus jamais de sa pochette, sauf peut-être pour tester si le caisson de basse fonctionne encore. Mes oreilles sont devenues trop snobs pour ça, ou peut-être juste trop vieilles pour apprécier de se faire piétiner par une tribu en colère sans qu'on leur offre un verre avant. Verdict : Efficace comme un coup de massue, subtil comme un bulldozer, et finalement aussi mémorable qu'une gueule de bois.
Interesting metal album. Weird 10 minutes long nothing track at the end though.
I would probably have loved this if I'd heard it in 2000.
I’m exhausted from just listening to this album. I can only imagine what this lead singer went through while recording it. Death Metal is not something I gravitate to at all, but it was fun to give this a listen to once…once.
A lot to unpack on this one. I don't care for the gutteral vocals, not my thing and in this case it really takes away from the music...which is a shame because it's actually really good. They do a great job mixing death metal and nu metal to get a really cool sound and feel. I've always loved heavy metal drumming, no exception here and the bass is ripping on top of it. Killer guitar riffs round out the feel. Really tight solid sound, they could have ridden that alone, but they go farther and really do some interesting things. Throwing in Brazilian tribal chants, unique rythms, and just crazy sounds they shifted the mood of the album on a dime. Kept me both on my heels trying to figure out what the hell was happening and on the edge of my seat for what was coming next. Enjoyed the ride. I've always known of Sepultura, but this was my first true listen (vocals always turned me off pretty quick in the past) This album has some single worthy songs, but I think it's best consumed as a whole. Regrettably the gutteral screaming vocals hold this back in my opinion. Without bad vocals it's a strong 3, with bad vocals it's a weak 3. I say that to say the album is a solid three.
Even though it's not for me, this is a good record. My understanding is that this is the first record by Sepultura that significantly deviates from their earlier death metal/thrash, here including South American musical styles, especially in the rhythms. Unsurprisingly, the incorporation of South American rhythm instruments is my favorite part of this record. I just don't enjoy death metal style singing. I liked the chunky metal grooves of many of these songs, but they were driven into the ground. There were several times when my interest was piqued, but no track made me want to pay close enough attention for me to check out it's name. Though I wouldn't call this record nu-metal, there were a few times that the hip-hop influenced nu-metal style dated this album a bit. I've been meaning to listen to this album for a while, and I found my listens today rewarding. I love the concept of blending metal with South American drums. I know Sepultura has its fans, and the band has my respect, but I doubt I will ever seek out this album on my own. Three stars.
There’s a song on here called “Dictatorshit” which is a powerful political statement if I’ve ever heard one. Could have hit a lot harder if they named it “Dicktatorshit” though.
interesting
I listened to this record several years ago and remember liking the tribal drumming and indigenous Brazilian music aspects but not the aggression and screamed vocals. Listening again I felt the same although the locked into the groove a bit more this time. Admire the fact they tried to do something different but it's a bit too heavy for me.
Heavy
weird album mix of heavy metal and some random like background music drum solo at the end
much heavier than id like but nonetheless enjoyed it. it's also nice hearing something a bit different
brings back memories
Actually pretty good but ridiculously long.
Finally a metal album that I've not heard before! I really did not expect this to sound so similar to bands like Korn and at times System of a Down - it's very nu-metal sounding. I guess the 90's got every metal band in the end! The riffs are very heavy and chug away nicely, there are some interesting things happening such as the tribalistic drumming, and I like how angry it sounds, particularly the vocals (although they do wear thin). At times there are some very good blends of traditional Brazilian music and heavy metal which work well together. So that's the good. One not so good thing is it's over an hour long and it does get a bit tiresome in the end. Also because the guitars are so downtuned, there's little dynamics or tempo changes so the tracks do eventually just bleed into one long song. Not an album I'll be returning to that soon, despite the really cool sounds that they manage to blend together seamlessly. I personally think that Slayer's 1998 album 'Diabolus in Musica' is very underrated and if you want an 80's thrash band doing their version of 90's nu-metal, give that a listen instead of this.
later
I surprised myself by liking this. The mix of Brazilian percussion and heavy rock on some tracks was really interesting. If this was 10 to 15 minutes shorter, I might have given it four stars.
If there were no vocals to this I'd give it a 4. Love the sound of the band, but can't do the devil sounding vocals, that you can't even understand.
I don’t like metal. But this is groovy and I like that
Hey, so uh... This really isn't my thing, but actually it was pretty good! I was particularly surprised by the back half. Probably won't listen to it again, but I'm glad I did once and I feel like my horizons have been broadened in a way that I'm not unhappy with.
The percussion is quite good, but I could have done without the scream-singing.
My my my.....a blast from the past. I remember driving around with friends as a 15/16 year old and listening to this. I'm pretty sure some car speakers at some point were blown out by it. I have to say, if this is on the list (and Kid Rock of all people) then we need to see bands like Deftones, Tool,. RHCP, Primus and Incubus also on the list. Ive always had a love for Brazilian music for quite some time and was always impressed with how the tribal drumming type sound was injected into this album. Also, it's not everyday you get to hear a Berimbau on a metal song. The drummer himself was always impressive on this album to me. I like Max Cavalera and his vocals go with all the testosterone present in the riffs, but dear Lord I could not imagine screaming like that for 13 to 14 songs straight! And then what...touring and doing that night after night? Madness! Even Mudvayne, Pantera and Slipknot have parts in their songs where they mellow out and sing instead of scream. So yeah as an old guy the screaming on every song does wear on you after a bit.
cannot believe i missed out on this when i was 16 💔
faces the same issue i see with a lot of metal albums where it is combining itself with a different type of music that sounds very cool in theory but ends up being very incongruous or just like an album with songs of two different genres rather than an album that actually combines the two styles on individual songs, for instance a song like Itsari is really cool but i would love for there to be more thrash/groove songs that combine typical metal sounds with more of the tribal stuff from Itsari so you are getting both at the same time, as it stands i still enjoy it but also it is so LONG bro, 40 mins wouldve been fine lol. Canyon Jam is cool Fav song: Born Stubborn
Interesting concept, botched execution. I really liked the other Sepultura album on here because it was a refined thrash album. Almost as smart as that can get. This is sort of like that but for nu metal. Problem. Nu metal is not meant to be smart or high concept. It will always kind of suck. And it works best the more it fucking sucks. So that leaves this album in this sort of limbo where I want to praise its risks but also ask why this direction. Bummer.
Has its place and lots of fans I’m sure. And it did sound better when you turn it up. More variety than I expected, sounded almost like Wah Wah guitars on Ratamahatta, though I enjoyed the heavier songs more, I.e not Jasco and Itsari. Could’ve done without the last really long song. Felt a sore throat thinking about how he can get through a gig. Dare I say slightly better / more fun than Soundgarden.
I really swear I already had this… oh well, always happy for metal albums.
Cool riffs and Brazilian folk metal, enjoyed it!
3.5. Heavy and really fun.
At first the vocals jarred me and I didn't think I would like this album, but I got used to them and this turned into a decent showing. It's good metal; I don't think I can give it 4 stars because I generally don't like harsh, screamo vocals, but the music was decent nonetheless.
this kind of stuff really isn’t for me but that’s not what i don’t like about it, i think the beat on most of the tracks are really boring and simplistic. it’s still not bad thought i liked a good chunk of songs here
6/10 Mommy, why is Cookie Monster angry? 9-18-2025
I’m not super into the encroaching nu-metal influence, but I’m quite fond of the textures incorporated from various indigenous Brazilian cultures that add a nice bit of flavor to the usual metallurgic milieu.
#700. This one starts out with a fucking banger, but the rest of the album isn't as good. 3/5: decent
Man, definitely mixed feelings on this one. The groove metal instrumentals were no less than a high 4 for me. But the guttural screaming on each track kind of killed my vibe, especially when compared to Iron Maiden or Megadeath. Averages out to a mid to high 3, but I'm going to round down.
Decent. But not quite my thing for metal. I love metal, but for some reason this didn’t connect with me.
I am really not a fan of this type of growling metal vocal. But the rest of this band was fantastic and, musically, they ripped hard. I enjoyed Ratamahatta and the throat singing stuff. Like so many albums that I don’t inherently enjoy, I thought this was too long. The jam at the end was cool, but unnecessary. If you took the best 30 - 40 minutes of this and made an album, it might’ve gotten a 4.
I LOATHE the vocals on the 1st track but I'm ok w the rest of the album. I could see this on a long run.
This is not my type of music, but having said that it isn’t objectively bad
Ratamahatta was fun. Always good to have Mike Patton popping up unexpectedly. That being said, it's all a bit monotone for me.
Not my style but the recording is pretty good so sounds good on a decent stereo. I add a star for the recording quality.
Brazilian heavy metal was new to me, I enjoy HM in general and world music so this was a nice mix.
this is pretty good, all things considered
It's not really my cup of tea, but the guitar riffs are great and there's some cool rhythmical stuff and bass lines in the first half of the album. But screaming is too much.
Not my cup of tea but was decent!
Served in a bite-size it’s great. I like the sound of the first couple of tracks. But I don’t need a 72-minute three course meal with the same flavours.
I somehow sorta enjoyed this. I am so surprised.
Interesting listen - I probably would have liked this more in middle/high school (when I listened to Slipknot and other metal adjacent bands). I applaud their incorporation of indigenous Brazilian elements, its always interesting when bands get outside of their comfort zone from a place of genuine experimentation.
I get and love what they're doing here, this is a very good album I'm glad it's on the list. Not super for me, but I definitely like it better than Arise.
metal
Always liked chaos ad More. Still really solid.
2,5
Would have never expected a Sepultura album be in this. I do know how big this album is. I have never really heard it. I know max mostly from Soulfly. I dug Soulfly a bit but never heard much of Sepultura.
Decent stuff. I saw them support this album back in 1996 and really enjoyed the show. The vocals are not the best thrash vocals around but the percussion is excellent. Would I listen to this everyday? No, I wouldn't but I still rate this.
ROOOOOOOOTS
I liked Arise better but these guys are lowkey groovy
3.0 rym
Asså absolut det är mest skrik, men gick ju faktiskt att digga till?!
Kakva nostalgija!! Oni mi bili jedni od dražih bendova iz te faze kad sam bila mlađa, rasturačina. Jaka 3/5, 6.5/10
Very heavy, it was good but not my favorite.
Unhinged (complimentary)
I really dig the music a lot, but the vocals are a little harsh for me
a blast from the past....still loud.
I'm surprised by my high rating if this album. The interlude and final track are responsible for moving this from a 2 to a 3
Some cool riffs, some cool percussion. But the scream didn't age well for me.
3.5/5. Very angry.
It’s a good album but definitely need to be in the mood for it
In today's episode of I can't rate anything that's not a rock album, Roots - Sepultura. It was pretty okay.
I let out an audible "Not again" when this one came up. The other Sepultura album on the list was one of the least enjoyable experiences I've had going through the list. But I had a much better time with Roots.
I am a fan of heavy metal, but I like my metal toned down a bit. I am into more classic bands in this genre. This is not a bad record, and musically it rocks, but the vocals can become grating throughout the album. I would like this in smaller doses, but there are some bright spots.
Took some adjusting mood-wise to get me to be up for this one, but by the middle and end I was mildly enjoying it. 6/10
Never been a fan of this style of singing. Instrumentally very talented, and I might like similar instrumental bands. My favourite tracks were Jasco and Itsari. Otherwise I am unlikely to listen to this again.
nice head bobbing music
J - 3/5 Best Track - "Ratamahatta" F - DNL
Pretty sick
Super interesting album. I was really into the front side, but an hour long really wore on me. I bet this was insane to hear when this dropped in 1996. The instrumentals are amazing, the vocals are perfect at times. I'm glad I listened to this, but I'm not sure how often I'll go back to this. If I do, it'll be a track or two from the front half.
Screamo. Not my favorite, but the music is alright!
Meh. I remember loving this album in middle school.
This was fine.
Groovy, pummeling, and all nü metal. I actually liked Roots a lot, but I feel like the album's too narrow in it's vision, which causes the album to drag a bit towards the end. If I had heard it as a younger person, maybe I'd be more forgiving or more patient. That said, still great
Just can’t get past the singing
Happy to see Sepultura get a second album on this list. Real fans of heavier music know that they are one of the most influential bands to ever grace the genre. "Roots" is great, with "Roots Bloody Roots" being the standout track. Max Cavalera's vocals are primal, the drumming is tribal, and when it comes to Brazilian thrash metal, Sepultura has no rival. Seeing this album here, along with "Arise" earlier on the list is a bit of a let down though, as it means there's a high likelihood that the album "Chaos A.D." won't appear on it... even though it's regarded as their best album (it is!). I gave "Arise" a 3/5, and while I think this one is better, I think it's only maybe a 3.5 or 3.6, with "Chaos A.D." being a clear cut 4/5.
Looked back at the last Sepultura album and coincidentally I also listened to that one at 930am on a Tuesday. I really do like this type of heavy metal but only in small doses, and this album was a bit long. Luckily the instrumentals songs in the last 3/4s were a nice breakup of the heavy stuff. But I had to give my ears a break about halfway through this album. Canyon Jam at the end was pretty wild. Not as good as the last one so I will go high 3
If this was an instrumental album I could have maybe given it a 4, but I really can't take the vocals seriously. I had a fun time but every time the singer opened his mouth I couldn't help but laugh
Melkoista tykitystä.
Olipahan heleä ja soinnukas ääni solistilla. Toisaalta kivoja rytmityksiä
Metal is a genre I'm not familiar with, overall I enjoyed the album, great energy, thought the stronger songs were near the start, feels a little repetitive and long after a while though.
Why yes I'll have some Brazilian funk metal, thank you. I've never heard a metal album quite like this, which feels like a high compliment. I could see myself actually revisiting. Like many albums from its decade, it's at least 20 minutes too long.
I think this hit me on a slightly wrong day. I enjoyed their “Arise” album less than 2 weeks ago, but liked this one a little less. No big criticism from me, not sure why I liked it less. 3/5
A bit too heavy for my tastes but the latin tinged interludes and the politics behind the music make this an interesting enough listen and tolerable to the senses.
Pretty kickass classic nu metal album. Vocals are raw and furious. Bass is bright and driving, double kick is going. Not my cup of tea necessarily, but certainly interesting. The Brazilian/Latin vibes the Wiki mentions are more on the periphery, and I would not have caught them if not listening (aside from the few chants).
Alright
Finally some more metal, haha. This list is in desperate need of it. Not usually a big fan of groove metal. Previously gave Pantera's album Vulgar Display of Power a 3/5. And while this album has a lot of that feel, it's got enough death metal in it along with the Brazillian tribal grooves to elevate it for me. Weirdly, the biggest song from the record, Roots Bloody Roots, is probably the weakest track for me, but its still solid. The album is on the long side so can't really pick songs out specifically, but its very consistent the whole way through. I'd cut the album down personally, but there isn't a wasted minute on this thing either. Edit: After getting Sepultura's Arise, I'm bumping this down to a 3. Arise is better and definitely worth the 4. I'm not as huge on groove metal, and Roots is a little on the lengthy side.
Musically it's great, especially the drumming, but the roaring just isn't for me
Pretty angry groove metal with some tribal stuff going on, the execution was decent but there were some tracks that were pretty meh and experimental bits that kind of flopped
Оставлю как непонятную запись. Не любовь к ню-металлу искажает восприятие. В наушниках и в колонах впечатление разное.
Technically, this is an outstanding album, and I can definitely see its appeal. I liked the use of the native Brazilian instrumentation to some of the songs. It was a little too heavy for my personal liking, but overall, a solid album.
It's hard, it's fast, and it's loud. Nothing really stands out as "amazing" to me, but if you like this kind of music, it's a pretty good listen.
these riffs man. solid. could i write poetry to this? n
Sounds like a rainforest declared war on a metal band and they just decided to jam it out instead. 3/5 because I respect the chaos, even if my ears are filing a noise complaint.
It's funny how the lack of variety in dynamics and musical structure seems to be a shared problem between electronic and metal albums. Not all of them, just a lot of the mid tier ones. Anyway, the end track was an experience, fair play for something different even if I never want to hear it again.
Death metal is like a very hot Jacuzzi — unpleasant at first but tolerable and even pleasant once you get accustomed to it. Still, for me, this genre has a low ceiling. I did like how it was rhythmic and spooky, but I wouldn't seem it out.
not sure how much room I have in my life for 90’s nü metal that is nü to me. That said, the percussion is excellent, the guitar tones are sick, and this generally holds up a whole lot better than say, Limp Bizkit.
This is intense tribal metal. I don't hate it, but the lead singer's guttural screaming instead of actually singing knocks the rating down by 1/2 a star. It makes it less enjoyable overall. I think this would have been significantly better as an instrumental record, but what do I know?
Nice to have some metal in the mix. It is a good album with some heavy riffs and nicely worked latin vibes. Not too many tracks that made me want to keep going back though.
While I by no means consider myself much of a nu metal/screamo appreciator, there's lots about this that I DO like - powerful, driving guitar lines, and really amazing percussive arrangements. I don't think I can really say anything innovative about this album that hasn't already been said, but it features such a seamless blend of traditional/regional Brazilian sounds into such a harsh format, and for that should be applauded. However, I just can't get past the vocals, which are great for what they are, but really just don't do it for me. This was an interesting listen, and although I didn't actually make it through the full 16 SONG RUN (crazy), the 6 or 7 songs that I listened to were sweet. It wasn't necessarily an enjoyable listening experience, but I can appreciate what the band achieved with this LP; because of this, it's kinda hard for me to put a numerical value on this project, because it was like a 2/5 for listenability, but a 4+/5 in terms of construction and sonics. With that being said, I will settle on a 3/5.
I don’t usually go in for pebble-gargling grind metal, but my god did I need to hear this album yesterday.
I like when they sing in Portuguese better.
Can’t do the voice
Definitely a step up from the recent Napalm Death. I enjoyed the background info about them exploring their Brazillian roots and it came across in the music.
the instrumentals are so good but I’m cursed to hate lyrics
Sepultura's *Roots* is a landmark album in the metal genre, released in 1996. It marked a radical departure from the band's earlier thrash and death metal sound, embracing elements of groove metal, nu-metal, and Brazilian tribal music. While the album has been lauded for its innovation and cultural significance, it has also faced criticism for its stylistic choices and perceived lack of coherence. Below is an in-depth analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. ## **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Roots* delve deeply into themes of cultural identity, political resistance, environmental concerns, and personal struggle. Tracks like "Roots Bloody Roots" emphasize pride in one's heritage and individuality. Max Cavalera described the song as a call to "believe in yourself" and "be proud of your roots"—a simple yet powerful message that resonated with fans globally. Other tracks explore specific aspects of Brazilian culture and history. For instance: - "Ratamahatta," sung entirely in Portuguese, celebrates life in Brazil's *favelas* (slums) and references figures like Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe) and Lampião, a notorious outlaw leader. - "Ambush" pays tribute to Chico Mendes, a murdered rainforest activist. - "Dictatorshit" critiques Brazil's 1964 military coup. - "Endangered Species" addresses ecological destruction. However, the lyrics are often criticized for their simplicity and lack of poetic depth. While they effectively convey raw emotion and political urgency, some listeners find them repetitive or overly blunt. ## **Music** Musically, *Roots* is a fusion of heavy metal with Brazilian tribal rhythms and instruments. The band incorporated traditional percussion, chants, and melodies inspired by their collaboration with the Xavante tribe. Tracks like "Itsari," recorded with the tribe in Mato Grosso, showcase this unique blend. Key musical elements include: - **Riffs:** The guitar work by Andreas Kisser is heavily groove-oriented, with downtuned riffs influenced by the burgeoning nu-metal scene (e.g., Korn). Tracks like "Roots Bloody Roots" feature simple yet crushingly heavy riffs. - **Percussion:** Igor Cavalera's drumming is a standout aspect of the album. His use of tribal percussion alongside traditional drums creates a dynamic rhythmic foundation. - **Vocals:** Max Cavalera's vocal delivery is raw and aggressive but polarizing. His shouting style aligns with nu-metal aesthetics but lacks the depth of his earlier growls. While some tracks like "Attitude," "Spit," and "Breed Apart" are praised for their energy and innovation, others are criticized for monotony. The album's reliance on groove-based structures leads to a lack of variety in some listeners' eyes. ## **Production** Ross Robinson's production played a significant role in shaping *Roots*. Known for his work with nu-metal bands like Korn, Robinson emphasized rawness over polish. The guitars have a droning quality that some find atmospheric but others describe as dull. Similarly, Max Cavalera's vocals are heavily distorted and muffled at times. The bass is prominent in the mix, adding weight to the grooves. However, some listeners feel that the production sacrifices clarity for aggression. Critics have also noted that the album's overall sound can feel dry or lifeless due to its stripped-down approach. ## **Themes** Thematically, *Roots* is an exploration of identity—both personal and cultural. The title itself reflects Sepultura's attempt to reconnect with their Brazilian heritage after years of success on the global stage. This theme permeates every aspect of the album: - The use of indigenous instruments and collaborations with native tribes underscores their commitment to authenticity. - Lyrics address issues like colonialism, environmental destruction, and social inequality in Brazil. - The artwork features an indigenous man from Brazil’s Karajá tribe alongside Sepultura’s tribal “S” logo. While these themes are ambitious and groundbreaking for a metal album, some critics argue that their execution feels superficial or forced in places. ## **Influence** *Roots* had a profound impact on both metal music and Brazilian culture. It helped popularize the fusion of metal with world music elements and inspired countless bands to experiment with non-Western sounds. The album also cemented Sepultura’s status as one of metal’s most innovative acts. However, *Roots* also marked a turning point for Sepultura. Shortly after its release, Max Cavalera left the band due to personal conflicts—a split that many fans view as the end of Sepultura’s golden era. ## **Pros** 1. **Cultural Innovation:** *Roots* broke new ground by incorporating Brazilian tribal music into heavy metal. 2. **Raw Energy:** Tracks like "Roots Bloody Roots" deliver anthemic power that resonates with listeners. 3. **Percussion Excellence:** Igor Cavalera’s drumming is dynamic and integral to the album’s sound. 4. **Global Impact:** The album expanded metal’s boundaries and influenced future genres like nu-metal. 5. **Authenticity:** Sepultura’s commitment to exploring their heritage adds depth to the project. ## **Cons** 1. **Monotony:** The groove-heavy riffs can feel repetitive over the course of an hour-long album. 2. **Vocals:** Max Cavalera’s shouting style divides opinion; some find it visceral while others see it as lacking nuance. 3. **Production Issues:** Ross Robinson’s raw approach sacrifices clarity for aggression. 4. **Nu-Metal Influence:** Fans of Sepultura’s earlier thrash sound often criticize *Roots* for embracing nu-metal trends. 5. **Execution Flaws:** While ambitious in concept, some tracks fail to fully integrate tribal elements with metal. ## **Conclusion** *Roots* is an ambitious yet polarizing album that redefined what metal could be by merging it with Brazilian cultural elements. Its strengths lie in its innovation, energy, and thematic depth, while its weaknesses stem from uneven execution and stylistic shifts that alienated longtime fans. Regardless of its flaws, *Roots* remains a landmark release that continues to spark debate among listeners nearly three decades later.
Pretty heavy stuff here but not horrible
J’étais vraiment excité en lisant la description de l’album, ainsi que les tops commentaires: Metal au rythme plus lent, fusion latine, éléments tribal traditionnel brésilien… Quel ne fut pas mon désarroi en entendant le chanteur BEUGLER dans mes oreilles, osti c’t’un album de scream, y’aurait pu le dire dans la description crissme. Mais, enfoui sous le braillage, je détectais une super instrumentation, mixant bel et ben des percussions trad et même du didgeridoo (du moins, ça y ressemble). Je fit donc quelques recherches, tombant sur une version instrumentale des 4 tounes les plus populaires de l’album; ça slap sa mère les poteaux! J’accorde donc ma grâce à cet album en lui accordant un 3, au lieu du 1 traditionnellement accordé aux albums de scream
i liked them better im my youth when i had to pretend that i liked them to be cool. still, memories...
enjoyed quite a bit! don’t get around to sepultura much
do I like this album? No. Will I listen to this album ever again? No. But, I can see why someone would like it and listen to it. I’m not mad about it, but as soon as this album was done, I switched over to listening to Lofi. Maybe I just lack culture.
Too liud
Nie trawię za bardzo metalu, ale to jak z rapem - dobra muzyka przekracza granice. Tutaj, mam wrażenie, że Sepultura się na tej granicy zatrzymuje. Są momenty eksperymentalne, melodyjne, rytmiczne nawet, ale są też dźwięki, które prawie na pewno są tarką do prania. Ciekawe, interesujące, momentami nawet przyjemne (o ile tak można powiedzieć o metalu), ale jednak 5.5/10
Loppua kuunnelssa ja käsittämättömän upeaa selliats kunnellssa mietin että olenko ollut tajuamatta muuta albumia nimittäin loppu paras kappale jota vuon 2025 kuunneltu ei olla echoes vielä kujnneltu 2205.... #2 all time song heh.. Noh ei sentään... Katsotaan kanssapuoli sama side... Onko mileipide jahas ollaanko skipattu kun manufaktuuriviha... Sama juttu nykyajan leffoissa pum pum pum ammutaan.. jahdataan kun jänistä... NOH EI OLE EDES JÄNISJAHTI EXCITING JAHTITASOA... vaan paskaa paskaa mukamuka väkivaltaa HEHH KJEH MINÄPÄ KERRON MIKÄ ON TODELLISTA VÄKIVALTAA... Kuvitelkaa tämä: Olette sidottuna pimeässä huoneessa, jossa ei ole ulospääsyä. Aika ei ole enää jotain, mitä mitataan kelloilla, vaan se on muuttunut kivuksi, epävarmuudeksi ja toivon hitaaksi lahoamiseksi. Ei ole musiikkia, ei hidastettuja räjähdyksiä, ei sankarin viime hetken pelastusta – vain kahleiden kalina, vieraan kielen karjunta, ja tietoisuus siitä, että teidät on unohdettu. Tämä on Danielin helvetti. Ei Hollywoodin räiskintäfantasia, vaan todellinen vankila, jossa aseiden pauke on vähemmän pelottavaa kuin hiljaisuus ennen lyöntiä. Nykyelokuvien väkivalta on pelkkää kornia balettia – kehoja lentelee ilmassa, veri piirtyy kauniiksi roiskeiksi, ja katsoja saa nauttia tunteettomasta, esteettisestä tappamisesta ilman seurauksia. Mutta Danielissa väkivalta on todellista. Se ei ole pelkkiä ruhjeita ja verta – se on odotusta, henkistä kidutusta, tietoisuutta siitä, että jokainen päivä voi olla viimeinen. Se on kiduttajien jalkojen ääni käytävällä, jokainen askel lyö sydämen tahtiin: tuleeko hän minun vuorolleni? Aito kidutus ei kaipaa aseita. Se tapahtuu mielessä. Se on riisuttu ihmisyys, hitaasti pirstoutuva mieli, tarve pitää kiinni yhdestä viimeisestä muistosta, kun kaikki muu on riistetty. Siinä missä Hollywoodin toimintasankarit ampuvat sadalla luodilla ties kuinka monta vihollista, Danielin maailma on yksi mies pimeässä huoneessa, odottamassa, milloin nälkä, pelko tai iskut vievät viimeisen palan siitä, mikä teki hänestä Danielin. Sitä on todellinen väkivalta. Ei koreografioituja iskuja, vaan raa’an elämän epäinhimillistä armottomuutta. chatgpt Mutta tuo vika kappale... holy....
Didn't rate it much back in the day, but it goes hard still.
This record has its upside and downs. Not their best but not bad either
Started strong. Wore out its welcome.
3.75 Very enjoyable. That's some music to get shit done to!
Brazilian tribal KoяN. I Liked inu metal when I was a young teenager but most of it is pretty bad going back and revisiting. I liked Sepultura’s thrash sound before the full transition to numetal with this album.
Not usually into this style of singing anymore. At least since being a teenager. Album is played really well and I definitely got into the singing. Solid 3-3.5 stars
Certainly not an album I would typically put on, but found this more rhythmic and melodic than most of this genre.
Highlight: Ratamahatta In a nutshell: innovative nu-metal. Yes, you read correctly. Innovative nu-metal. It includes tribal music and some lyrics are in Portuguese as well as English. In 1996. Wow. I gotta give props to the band. Playing instruments and singing/growling/shouting with this kind of ferocity requires endurance. The energy is always up, I didn’t hear it dip at all. Do I like it? Not really. The riffs were repetitive and I’m not into nu-metal. Does it need to be heard? Absolutely. Overall: 5/10
Weird ending
Too long. 3/5
Some decent metal jams here, with guitar play that reminds me of System Of A Down. Too repetitive though. Favorite Song: "Itsari"
Slipknot in the jungle.
Groupe et album connu. Pour moi le meilleur album de Sepultura est "Beneath the Remains". C'est même un des meilleurs album metal de cette époque, voire de toute époque confondue. Je trouve les albums suivants bien moins réussis, de plus en plus mous et moins créatifs. Roots est celui qui m'a fait arrêter de suivre ce groupe ... Riffs simplistes, morceaux monotones et moins créatifs, même si certains mélanges de sonorités avec des instruments traditionnels donnent une certaine originalité (+1). Cette nouvelle écoute ne m'a pas fait changer d'avis ... Je vais plutôt réécouter "Beneath the Remains". =>3/5
Metal 🤘 Hay que preguntarse en que momento escuchas esto... Mejor sin niños
It's very interesting conceptually, but that doesn't mean that my ears enjoyed all of it. 2.6.
Where was this album when I was in high school? Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
I haven't listened to Sepultura in a very long time. Hearing them again makes me nostalgic and reminds me that they are one of the best Metal bands around. Really - pick any album of theirs and you'll get a quality metal album. Roots in particular is a great blend between classic Thrash and modern (2000s) Heavy Metal. 3.5 |ii| / 5
Yeah this is pretty good.
I like Arise, but I could never get into the music they made afterwards. Each song has half a song worth of riffs and too much repetition. Favorite song: breed apart
I don't know how to appreciate this variety of metal.
Well, this definitely starts off super heavy and definitely understand why they are as popular as they are
Groove/nu-metal thay integrates Brazilian influences (particularly indigenous) in a thoughtful and pretty seamless way. It particularly does a lot to spice up the rhythm on this heavy album, which is pretty heavy for metal that’s still somewhat accessible. Downtuned Riffs galore. A few standout tracks, but a bunch just blow by well enough but without much thought. Enjoyable album overall and seems notable in the genre, even if it’s not my typical thing. I’ll probably think about this album more than I’ll actually revisit it though.
Need to listen again as I don't really remember details but I liked
When I saw the album cover, I got the feeling that this surely must be some kind of heavy or black metal or something. I wasn't wrong! Cool to include an album like this on list that is some order of magnitudes heavier than anything that's been here so far. Doing this in '96 also feels quite early for this type of music, so this must have been quite novel when it came out. I read online that the album is about the band exploring their Brazilian heritage, and that they went to visit some indigenous tribe in the jungle. This is quite an interesting backstory that was at least missed out by me when listening to it. As for the actual music... well, it's not for me. I find it hard to connect to and appreciate, which also makes it impossible for me to give it a fair score. But I dare say I've heard music in this genre that I liked way less, so I guess that's... good? I'll give this a 3 star rating as it feels most fair. Also, it wasn't that bad honestly.
Cool album! Really enjoyable riffs and really liked the latter half of the album with the mix of metal and tribal music. Felt fresh and experimental. I still have a problem with growling vocals but I think it worked ok here. Also I know this was the foundation of what later became nu-metal and I really hate nu-metal. As such, some of it was a bit to close to it for my taste. It was a good listen albeit slightly long. Strong 3 stars!
I'm not into this kind of metal and it was too long. But some songs slapped, great mood. Stand-out: Itsári
Quite liked this album, it's a bit of a mix of styles, experimental I suppose? Would definitely listen to it again at the right time. Just the ending seemed to go on a tad long.
This album is too long, and probably caught me on an off day for heavy rock
I'm really not a fan of the vocals on this. But for that, I think I'd rate it four. I really enjoyed the other components.
Not my particular brand of metal but it’s ok honestly.
Roots saw Sepultura going back to their Brazilian... well okay, roots (bloody roots)… but at the same time incorporate a lot of nu metal ideas? I don't know, it's not really my cup of Ayahuasca, and although the indigenously inspired percussion tracks are interesting, it sort of ruins the flow of the album.
Creative musically but the distorted angry vocals just leave a lot to be desired. Better than the previous record that I listened to from this band. Wider range of sounds.
No soy muy fan del metal, excepción aparte de algún grupo y algún tema en especial. Este disco ha sido catalogado como la cumbre creativa de la leyenda del metal brasileño, Sepultura. En algunos temas, como "Ratamahatta" (uno de esos temas que sí disfruto), consiguen integrar los ritmos nativos e incluso la percusión y la voz de Carlinhos Brown dotando al álbum de una textura alternativa que en ocasiones se aleja del clásico trash metal.
I knew the name Sepultura but had never listened to them before. It was cool reading about the band exploring their Brazillian heritage and spending time with an indigenous Amazon tribe during the development of this album.
I'll start of by saying I am happy heavy/death/nu-metal has finally been represented in this list for me after 500 albums, but I'll then bring it back down to earth by saying I'm disappointed it's this album. There are just so many better similar bands out there - Mastodon, Gojira, Opeth, Meshuggah, etc. Hell even KoRn has better albums, which go even further down the naffer nu-metal route. On the whole there's not much worth saving down from this album, despite it being fairly decent. No killer tracks (arguably Roots would count as one but I overplayed it in my teens). What could have been.
Pikkuskloddina Roots Bloody Roots oli jopa vähän pelottava biisi ja hyvin poikkeava kaikesta muusta. Levyssä pari oikeasti hyvää biisiä sekä helvetisti munaa.
Known about this for a long time as an actually good proto nu metal album but never made time to listen to it until now. It's not a wrong take but kind of minimizes what they're up to with the deep grooves, thrash riffs, hardcore screaming, Brazilian percussion, gutteral death metal howls, industrial production and epic breakdown & rebuilds. Extremely good at its best, but 72 minutes is probably 33 too many. I'm not pissed off enough to REALLY love this, but if I were, oooh boy...
Yikes! I have notnhad much exposure to heavy/death metal and this sure leaves its mark once it is given a listen. However this is a metal album that crosses with Brazilian culture and world music rhythms in places. The themes are serious and the delivery, to say the absolute least, is angry. Instrumental songs are good, "Jasco", "Itsari" and the lengthy "Canyon Jam". Giving it a three just because of the relevant themes and connection to Brazilian rhythms.
So this is what Sepultura sounds like. I've had many Latino metalhead friends tell me this is one of their favorite bands - I get it. It's very hard, raw, and has a ton of indigenous sounding instruments. Perhaps a nod to Brazil's indigenous populations. This album isn't exactly for me, but I know this band means a lot to my peers.
Väl långt men ganska trevligt ändå
Metal
Foundational, a little much as an album, some extremely important standout tracks
Hey, I forgot Sepultura exists. I had to save this until later to be ready to listen to it because it was not my 9am vibe today, and Canyon Jam was simply unnecessary. Otherwise kind of enjoyable. Not a high-ranking vocal style for me though which is the real drawback.
Not a huge fan of the genre, but Sepultura do what they do.
Well this is way better than the Me-Talica album I just had. Is does something a bit more interesting. Yeah it's a bit shouty but has some really interesting moments.
Starts very strong, some wonderfully composed thrash metal. The breakdowns are brutal, the guitars are fucking disgusting, and the composition is impeccable. This stuff really gets the head bobbing. While the album does drag on a bit longer than I’d like and explores some less designed tracks and dives into tribal music. A bit out of character.
This firmly gets a positive review from me, I enjoyed it a lot and respect what this album is trying to do. The inclusion of all the indigenous music and instruments really adds to the entire sound and doesn't feel gimmicky in the slightest. I can't give it higher than a 3 because I rate based on my likeliness of listening again, and metal is 100% not my cup of tea, but I'm really glad I got the chance to listen to this. Respect.
I wanted to go higher on this, but ultimately didn't enjoy this one as much as the first of the band's we listened to (1991's Arise). This one seemed a little starker, though I thought the inclusion of some of the Brazilian percussion elements was cool. The rhythms in general were my favorite aspect of the album.
Vocal performance wasn't really to my taste. But this was a blast!
I liked roots bloody roots since before but the rest of the album is pretty good too. Like that they mix in some interesting rhythms.
Decent, but I don't think Sepultra needed two albums on this list. Keep this one, ditch *Arise*, imo
Ein paar gute Dinger drauf. Insgesamt aber schnell ermüdend.
Took a bit of adjusting since I barely listen to metal but overall I enjoyed this album. I adore Brazilian music so the elements of it on this album were awesome and really cool getting to hear them blended with metal. The vocals aren't my cuppa tea but I got used to them. Probably could be like 15-20 minutes shorter tbh. Fav tracks were roots bloody roots, Ratamahatta, and attitude. 6.5/10
Music is great. Never a fan of this style of singing.
I'd heard of Sepultura and this album before and always thought I wouldn't like it Turns out I quite enjoyed a lot of it! I'm not really into screamo type music, but the music itself was badass I found the album too long though, and Canyon Jam was really bad on the ears. That metal scratching sound was so bad. And 13 mins was way too long 3 ⭐️
I like angry music, but this pushes it. I think I could get into everything except for the vocals, but still I rather listen to this than Taylor Swift.
This was badass. I liked it way more than I thought I would. Really dug the tribal rhythms and heavy riffs
3/5
Not really into this.
Ok… started this up and was all ready to complain and bitch about it because I’m nearing the end of the project, am losing hope that The Pointer Sisters will get their due, and really don’t enjoy Cookie Monster heavy metal. I was just itching to give this a 2. BUUUUUUT… this album had lots of hints of traditional Brazilian music in the first half, then the second half started making it very apparent. Jasco, Isatari and Canyon Jam really altered the tone and made those touches all the more apparent in the second half of the album. I gave “Arise” (the other Sepultura album) a 3 despite the unpleasant vocals, but this album should eke out a higher rating I think because it is even more interesting and creative. But those vocals keep this squarely out of my permanent rotation.
I’m not sure who’s angrier, Dr Dre or Sepulture.
I wish I had more to say about this album. It's perfectly good metal, but it just didn't really grip me too hard. Maybe it's the overall length, maybe it's the specific style... I'unno. Part of me feels bad, 'cuz I'd love to have more to say about or higher marks to give non-American metal, and I do like how they incoporated an indigenous Brazilian tribe (the absurd length of the hidden track "Canyon Jam" aside), but that's just how it be.
It’s a 3. There are some really good songs here, but I’d say about half of the album hits that good mark, and the other half just sorta falls flat, either from trying too hard to sound edgy and deep, or from not doing enough creatively with its instrumental soundscape to justify the screaming vocals as the main focal point. When this album hits, I do think it hits really nicely, with a good burst of energy; Born Stubborn is probably my favorite one here. When this album hits those lulls, it just feels like I’m waiting for another chance without getting any kind of feeling from the song itself, no matter how hard it tries to keep the energy up – Lookaway is full of these exotic grunts and backing vocal yells, but they just come across as cheesy to me. Don’t even get me started on the last track, which had me captivated for the first 6 or 7 minutes off just percussion and atmosphere, and then had me begging for it to end by the 10 minute mark when it just kept fucking going. It’s a good album, but it just has a number of flaws to me that make it so I can’t justify going any higher than a 3.
Great 90s metal. 3.5 stars
I don’t really like the screaming vocals, but the guitars/drums are incredible. Might not listen again on my own but good for what it is. 3.5
Great first half. Fuck the 2nd half tribal shit.
I really wish I liked this album more. Brazilian heavy metal with a bit of a basis in MPB (Música popular Brasileira) sounds like a surefire win in my book, but unfortunately that promise just doesn’t really deliver. “Roots Bloody Roots” and “Ratamahatta” are really the only songs I like. The former is just a great groovy metal track, and the latter is probably the most Brazilian-sounding song on the album with a basis in post-samba rhythm. Still though, these two tracks bring up the rest of the mediocre metal into something solid enough that I’d give the album a positive spin.
The music is good, but I'm not a fan of the vocals. When it comes to growls and the like, it feels very hit or miss depending on the vocalist.
Not for me but good
I don't actually get this album. Most of their earlier stuff is better? I still like it well enough but this isn't my pick from them. Will I listen to again: 20%
Sepultura is perhaps one of the most renown Brazilian heavy metal groups in history. Their album "Roots" is loud, aggressive, and powerful. "Roots Bloody Roots" is an absolute riot. About halfway through the album, the gripe about this album would be that, after awhile, it all starts to sound the same. However, the placement of "Jasco" and "Itsari" is perfect to break up the monotony. Sepultura's dedication to their Brazilian heritage, seen through cultural instrumentation and inclusion of Xavante tribesmen, is commendable. Interestingly enough, this album and my previous album by Slipknot were both produced by Ross Robinson, "The Godfather of Nu Metal."
There was a time that I would have loved this, but now it kind of messes with my nervous system. That said, if you're gonna do death metal or thrash metal (nu metal?), you gotta be extreme and this is certainly extreme, without being completely unlistenable like some of it is. I actually listened to the whole thing, which was a surprise. I would never listen to this record again, but if they ever come to Chicago I would totally go to the show just for the scene.
GOOOOOD PRETTY GOOOOOD
I thought its was pretty good but not that good enough to warrant some more listens. Pretty basic metal in my opinion.
Wahrlich nicht mein Stil. Der Sound ist aber gut. Genregemäß düster, kein Gesang sondern Geschrei. Die Einbindung der indigenen Gesänge und Rhythmen ist aber gelungen und verbessern das Ganze.
I can see what they’re trying to do, and I can appreciate that it is (or was) a unique and interesting idea, but I don’t think it ever really lives up to the promise of the idea. Because of the focus on the rhythms of indigenous Brazilian music, the music is necessarily Groove Metal, and that unfortunately leaves something to be desired in the quality of the riffs; they’re all just a bit basic, and that’s really the cardinal sin for a metal album. So, it’s a two for my quality of enjoyment, but I’ve bumped it to three because I can see what they were trying to do, and how it’s influenced other local non-western metal scenes
Great production(oh, 1996... back when the overdigitalization of metal was a distant blip on the horizon...). Gotta be honest, not something I'm gonna return to. I got most of my metsl jimmies out in the early 2000s. But i can recognize vision and craft. Mostly it sounds like very well produced Slipknot core. But it came out 3 years before Slipknots debut. I dont know what that means. My favorite songs were the acoustic tracks jasco, itari, and ironically the most grindcore song on the album, Dictatorshit.
I remember quite liking Chaos AD, but losing interest in Sepultura when Roots was released. After a few listens, I still have my doubts about the quality of the songs on this album. The vocals also seem more annoying than on previous albums; I don't mind harsh vocals, but Cavalera's technique sounds very forced and unhealthy. The album is okay when in you are in an energetic mood, but in general, I would not return to it often, except maybe for a few songs.
Good 90s metal
Heavy thrasher music isn't really my thing....but I didn't hate this album. I might even put it on again if I feel the need to let out some steam.
Interesting take on "roots". I liked the ideas, could have been more melodic. Kept me interested the whole hour plus album.
Not my thing but I did appreciate the creativity.
Mostly just blah metal noise. That one track had a fun stop-motion music video. And "Jasco" is actually some nice intense rhythmic acoustic stuff, so that was a good discovery. Really, the three or so acoustic tracks here are good, the rest is just blah.
Cool heavy metal. Not totally my style.
Sepultura is cool, kind of a bridge between metal, grunge, and nu metal. Some interesting ideas on this album, great percussion and cool guitar tones. Max’s vocals are a little too one-note for me though.
3+
Death metal then ends with more earthly acoustic sound.
I like music that tells a story. Or has a message. Or just has lyrics that are great to sing along with. This is why Heavy Metal has never been my go-to genre of music. On the other hand, I think Metal is great fun. How could anybody who loves guitars think otherwise? But Metal usually falls in two categories for me: "this rocks" or "this sucks". There's nothing in between. As for Sepultura's "Roots", this album rocks. Big time. This is Metal at it's best. These boys thrash. I've always thought the best Heavy Metal bands have the ability to write amazing ballads. While most of this album is trying to bust your eardrums, Sepultura throw in a 1-2 punch of "Jacso" and "Itsári", which are both beautiful instrumental tracks. I've already added them to my Spotify playlist. These guys are brilliant musicians. But like most Heavy Metal heads, they just also happen to be complete lunatics..... In the best possible way. This rocks. 🤟
Very interesting to hear this compared to their album Arise not that long ago. Where that one was very thrash, this is almost nu metal. The Brazilian influence is even stronger too. I do really enjoy the unique percussion elements.
It was very heavy and I can see it's influence in a lot of heavy rock afterwards.
Wayyy better than the previous one
This is thrash metal, so it's obviously not going to be enjoyable to everyone. It's not really my thing either. However, if you can at least tolerate it, give it a chance and understand the subject matter and history a little bit, you may find that -- within the scope of this sub-genre -- it's fairly innovative and meaningful. It will still hurt your ears, though.
hahahahaha okay!! giving this a three because i feel like this is a solid screamo album and maybe if i were more passionate about screamo that i would rate it higher
This is probably great if you like this style. Personally I can’t get past the vocals so I’m going middle of the road. 2.5
Juuret! Punajuuret! Täähän on tavallaan aika jännä kansanmusan ja metallin yhdistelmä. Oon suuri vanhan Sepulturan diggari, mutta tää levy on niin numetallin sävyttämä että pelkkä brassien kansanmusa olis toiminut ehkä paremmin. Kyllä tällä on musta ihan ansaittu paikka tällä listalla kaikessa onituisuudessaan. 3/5
Итс окэй. Ожидал чего-то гораздо более тяжелого для восприятия и резкого. Традиционные вставки гораздо интереснее всей этой нюметальщины. Лучшая песня - Itsári.
3.5
I feel like I enjoyed this more when it came out, it was good for the time but I dont think I can listen to it often anymore
Grei jobbemusikk
Decent metal but I’m not sure what sets this apart besides them doing a song or two in Portuguese
I can’t do the screaming, but I appreciate the energy
Not into screamo metal, but love the percussion and guitars in this album. 3* for me, because of the screamo. The instrumentals and a couple of great tracks bump this up from 2*. Just can't cope with all the vocals being yelled at me. I love Korn, Slipknot, and other nu-metal, but maybe pure screamed metal isn't for me. Maybe I would have really enjoyed this in high school. Because it was so different from everything else, I enjoyed Jasco. Itsari, which features a native chant, was very cool. This put me onto a Korn kick.
Jarring at first, but soon settles in to what feels like a deep-tissue massage.
I started to listen to this at 8:30am. Now I don't need coffee. First impressions: this is much better than I expected. Good, aggressive vocals, interesting percussion (is that the snare sound or a timpani?), and the guitar tone is impressive for this type of 90s metal (pre-Nu Metal?). It's brutal, but also kind of accessible. I'm pretty sure the last track is gun shots and someone intensively cleaning a cooking pot.
Wasn’t sure how to rate this. I liked it, and it was pretty interesting as far as metal goes (incorporates Brazilian sounds/rhythms), but it was bad timing - I was tired, had a headache, and it felt like it went on too long. At another time, I might’ve given it a 4; I settled for 3 because I’m unlikely to listen to the whole album in one sitting again.
It's alright, though very much a product of the mid-90s. There are a few solid tracks, but the album would need to be seriously trimmed down to be great.
Liked the rhythm section. Didn't care for the yelling.
I really liked the metal parts, would have given 4 stars if the end of the album were still metal.
ROOOOOOOOOOTS BLOODY ROOOOOOOOOOOOOTS
I liked this a heck of a lot more than I thought I would. Metal is a strange genre for me. I love punk, alt rock, grunge, but I think I was born slightly late to appreciate Rock-rock. So listening to this was enlightening. It ticked so many of my boxes. A good listen that really engaged me.
based on the album cover and first minute of the album i thought i was gonna HATE it. i didn’t enjoy most of it but the music was more prominent than the screaming and the last song was a 12 minute long percussion jam so it gets points there
decent
find metal album
Maybe a bit too nu for me
Thoughts before listening: I'm pleasantly surprised to see this on the list. I was a teenager when this came out and I remember it being a big deal to my friends who were into metal. I was more into punk rock than metal but I did hear this at the time. It was too dense and the vocals were too much of a growl for me. I'm interested to see what I think of it now as an adult. Review: This is definitely dense and I'm still not a huge fan of the growled vocals, but I'm not hating this album. There's definitely a cool groove and great percussion to these songs even though it's not necessarily my style. The music sounds a lot like what Korn and the Deftones were doing around that same time. The songs with tribal chants are cool and interesting.
I think it's easy to dismiss this type of metal as gimmicky and easy to do, but Sepultura is a talented (and weird) group of dudes. It's definitely a unique sound - thanks in large part to the incorporation of world and native chants/instrumentation. But there is some skill involved in this too. I found the guitar work on Jasco to be impressive.
General culture
Woah
Good for a certain mood and to play DOOM to.
Gid, but a little too heavy. Not as too heavy as I used to think though.
none of those squealy guitars and ultimate speed drumming so as metal goes this is fairly acceptable.
I don't have the genre bona fides or right ear for Roots's production or I would be rating it higher. The album's got a nice amount of tempo variation and experiments with the standard thrash base they start with. While that covers "experimentation", the blanket impression of the disc is quite similar, though, and not in concept record terms I love. Heavy, loud, earthier than Arise, sure.
Niet mijn genre, wel vet
Instrumentally this is a well put together album, interesting rythms. Vocals can be harsh sometimes 2.8
So much good musicality. So much shouting. So long.
way too long brothers
This was better than I was expecting but it got a bit much after the first 30 mins
90s groove metal is far from my favorite thing to listen to, so I was not excited to listen to this album and my expectations were not high. And I really disliked it for the first few tracks, but then there was a moment around Lookaway where it kinda clicked for me, and I really enjoyed the last half. There's a kind of epicness and importance to this album that I think is really cool, it's one of those metal projects that feels like a journey. The song compositions are consistently pretty cool and diverse, and the influence of traditional Brazilian folk music is really cool and well implemented. There are some moments on this album that are actually terrifying (namely on Lookaway and Endangered Species), and the whole thing feels so massive and hard-hitting. That's a lot of praise for an album I'm gonna end up giving a 3/5 here, but maybe if I relistened to it knowing what to expect, it would grow on me
Brazilian heavy metal band.
I am not familiar with Metal, never heard of Roots, but this was most definitely Metal. I cranked it up to feel it and can see it's place in getting adrenaline going. I listened to this while making dinner and I can safely say my fried rice was near perfect. Probably had nothing to do with the music though. This album would also function as torture.
This is what I thought it would be. I’ve seen the cover art but never given it a listen. After you get through the gutteral vocals. There is some great music in here.
Not my thing. Good at what it does.