10 90s Metal Albums That Successfully Transformed Their Band's Sound

2. Sepultura - Roots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiwqRSCWw2g It's hard to imagine that Sepultura expected their '96 record Roots to become the huge success that it did, especially not to a western audience of metal fans. The band's Brazilian influence runs right at the heart of it, something which was an evolutionary move for the genre at the time. The incorporation of their heritage helped to create a mixing pot of groove metal and tribal drum beats, elements that were only hinted at on the thrash-centric but equally brilliant Chaos A.D. Roots marked the point where Sepultura became something else entirely, let loose from the shackles of the constantly speeding, thrash sound. You almost feel like you're wondering through the Amazon rainforest when listening to Roots, an extremely rare achievement in music that invokes more senses than just the auditory. Songs like the high-speed, in your face anthem 'Spit' or the vicious, impending doom of 'Ambush' hit hard enough to entice even the most adamant thrash fans but it's tracks like the experimental metal, cranium crusher 'Lookaway' or the mystical acoustic stormbringer 'Jasco' that demonstrate what a rich fabric Sepultura attempt to weave on Roots. One of the most unique aspects of the record is the almost religious experience that the group seem to be experiencing throughout much of it, with songs like the frenzied 'Ratamahatta' reaching fever pitch levels of insanity. It's infectious for the listener to hear a band clearly deep into what they are concocting. The historical, religious narratives of the songs differ from other metal groups in that they aren't overly preachy and they don't submit to the genre's demonic reputation. You're more likely to find this spiritual lot praying to an ancient deity than to the devil. The beautiful earthy undertones found on the chant-heavy 'Itsari' exemplify their love for the mysteries of nature. This is the ideal year to revisit it as 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Roots LP, an album that still sounds as innovative and unique today as it did twenty years ago. Key Tracks: Ratamahatta, Straighthate, Lookaway, Born Stubborn