Igor Cavalera admits Korn influence on Sepultura's Roots

By ( Metal Hammer ) published

Former Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera says Korn had an impact on the sound of classic 1996 album Roots

A picture of Sepultura taken in 1996
Sepultura in 1996 (Image credit: Getty)

Igor Cavalera says Sepultura’s classic album Roots was influenced by Korn.

Last week, Korn frontman Jonathan Davis said he believed Sepultura “ripped off” his band’s sound on their sixth album, released in 1996 and produced by Ross Robinson – who was also behind the desk on Korn’s self-titled 1994 debut.

And while former Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera admits Korn had an impact on Roots’ sound, he insists it was far from the only thing they were listening to at the time.

Asked if Korn influenced Roots, Cavalera tells Do You Know Jack?: “I think they did. Not only them, but them with Deftones at the time, they had a particular sound that was quite interesting for us.

“And that’s also one of the reasons that Ross Robinson came into the picture, because he could capture that raw sound at that time, and that was really cool.

“Those bands, they influenced us at the time of Roots, but I think there was a lot more going on than just that. So I think it’s all part of a whole combination of elements. When we had someone like Carlinhos Brown, a massive percussionist from Brazil, or even someone like Mike Patton, there’s a lot of things going on on the record.”

Igor left Sepultura in 2006 and now works with his brother Max in their group Cavalera Conspiracy, who are currently on the road on their Return To Roots tour.

Max Cavalera said recently that the tour is the closest fans will ever get to seeing a reunion of the classic Sepultura lineup.

Max and Igor Cavalera Return To Roots remaining tour dates 2016

Oct 10: Ottawa Mavericks, ON (with The Black Dahlia Murder, Allegaeon, Oni)
Oct 11: Toronto Opera House, ON (with The Black Dahlia Murder, Allegaeon, Oni)
Oct 12: Montreal Les Foufounes Electriques, QC (with The Black Dahlia Murder, Allegaeon, Oni)
Oct 14: Quebec City Imperial Theatre, QC (with Allegaeon, Oni)
Oct 15: Worcester Rock N Shock Festival, MA (with Combichrist, All Hail The Yeti, Oni)
Oct 16: Cleveland Agora Ballroom, OH (with Combichrist, All Hail The Yeti, Oni)
Oct 17: Sauget Pop’s, IL (with Combichrist, All Hail The Yeti, Oni)
Oct 20: Los Angeles The Regent, CA (with All Hail The Yeti, Oni)
Oct 21: Tempe Club Red D-Low Fest, AZ
Oct 23: Sacramento Aftershock Festival, CA

Grohl hails Sepultura's 'amazing' Roots

Stef Lach

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.