# Roots Drum Setup: Igor Cavalera's Brazilian Tribal Metal Revolution > Complete drum gear breakdown for Sepultura's landmark Roots album. Discover Igor Cavalera's 1996 kit, tribal percussion integration, and the revolutionary recording that merged metal with Brazilian indigenous music. **Type:** Album Drum Setup **Drummer(s):** [Igor Cavalera](/llms/drummers/igor-cavalera.md) **Band / Album:** Sepultura — *Roots* (1996) **Genre:** Groove Metal / Tribal Metal ## Overview Released on February 20, 1996, "Roots" is the album that changed heavy music forever. Sepultura — already thrash metal royalty with albums like "Arise" and "Chaos A.D." — made a bold artistic leap that would influence nu-metal, groove metal, and world music fusion for decades to come. At the heart of this revolution was Igor Cavalera. The drummer who had already proven himself as one of thrash metal's finest took his playing into completely uncharted territory. Working with legendary producer Ross Robinson at Indigo Ranch Studios, and actually recording with the Xavante indigenous tribe in the Brazilian Mato Grosso, Igor created a drumming performance that transcended metal entirely. "Roots" wasn't just an album — it was a cultural statement. The Cavalera brothers (Igor and vocalist Max) returned to their Brazilian heritage, collaborating with percussionist Carlinhos Brown and the Xavante people. The result was a primal, earth-shaking fusion of metal power and tribal rhythm that no one had attempted before. From the iconic groove of "Roots Bloody Roots" to the full tribal immersion of "Itsári," Igor's drumming on this album represents one of the most ambitious artistic statements in metal history. His kit setup blended traditional metal drums with Brazilian percussion instruments, creating textures that expanded what metal drumming could be. This article breaks down every piece of gear Igor Cavalera used, the tribal instruments that made "Roots" unique, and the revolutionary recording process that captured lightning in a bottle. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Pearl Pearl Masters Custom (Natural Maple finish) - **Snare:** Pearl Pearl Sensitone Steel, 14" x 6.5" - **Cymbals:** Paiste — Paiste RUDE Series - **Hardware / Pedals:** Pearl P-2000 Eliminator; Pearl H-2000; Pearl D-2000; Pro-Mark 5B Wood Tip - **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension for balance of crack and body ### Igor's 1996 Setup: Where Metal Meets Tribe For "Roots," Igor Cavalera used a Pearl Masters Custom kit — a choice that reflected both his evolution as a drummer and the album's hybrid nature. The Masters Custom's maple shells provided the warmth needed to blend with tribal percussion while maintaining the attack required for metal. The single 22" x 18" bass drum was a departure from the double-bass assault of earlier Sepultura records. Ross Robinson encouraged a more organic approach, and Igor rose to the challenge. The deeper shell gave each kick a thunderous, resonant quality that worked beautifully with the tribal drums. The tom setup was deliberately sparse. Igor's playing on "Roots" emphasized groove and texture over flashy fills. The four toms gave him options for tribal-influenced patterns while keeping the kit manageable enough to integrate with percussion setups. The maple shells were tuned lower than Igor's "Arise" era, creating a warmer, more earthy sound. This tuning complemented the organic recording approach Robinson favored — the drums needed to breathe and interact with the acoustic tribal instruments. What made this kit revolutionary wasn't the drums themselves — it was how Igor used them alongside traditional Brazilian percussion. The Pearl kit served as the metal foundation while atabaques, surdo, and timbales added layers that had never appeared on a metal record. ### The Crack of Brazilian Thunder Igor's snare sound on "Roots" is distinctive — powerful, cracking, with a resonance that echoes the atabaques used throughout the album. He achieved this with a Pearl Sensitone Steel, a snare known for its versatility and cutting power. The steel shell provided the brightness and projection needed to cut through the album's dense layers of guitars and percussion. At 6.5" depth, the drum offered body without becoming too deep or dark for the mix. Ross Robinson's production approach meant the snare was captured more naturally than typical metal productions. Instead of heavily gating and compressing, Robinson let the drum ring and interact with the room. This gave the snare an organic quality that matched the album's tribal aesthetic. Igor tuned the snare medium-high — tight enough for articulation during fast passages, but not so cranked that it lost body. The result was a snare that could handle the thrash-influenced sections while sitting comfortably alongside hand percussion. The snare wires were kept moderately tight, allowing some sympathetic buzz when the atabaques were played nearby. Rather than eliminate this, Robinson embraced it as part of the organic sound. ### Paiste Power and Darkness Igor's cymbal choice for "Roots" — the Paiste RUDE series — perfectly matched the album's aggressive yet organic approach. The RUDE series was designed for loud, aggressive playing, but their raw character also blended surprisingly well with the tribal instruments. The 14" RUDE hi-hats provided the cutting definition needed for Igor's groove patterns. The "Roots Bloody Roots" beat relies heavily on the hi-hat pattern, and the RUDEs delivered the powerful, defined sound that made the groove so infectious. The crash cymbals (18" and 19" Crash/Rides) gave Igor options for both crashing and riding. During the album's quieter, more atmospheric sections, he could ride these cymbals with a softer attack. During heavier passages, they crashed with explosive power. The 20" RUDE ride was essential for several tracks. Its weight and volume could hold its own against heavy guitar sections, while the clear bell provided definition for accents. The China cymbal became a signature element of the Sepultura sound on this record. The trashy explosions punctuated riffs and announced transitions, adding aggression without overwhelming the tribal textures. All cymbals were positioned relatively low and flat, allowing Igor to strike them with power while maintaining quick access during complex patterns. ## Key Facts - Recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, with additional sessions in Brazil - Producer Ross Robinson (who later defined nu-metal with Korn, Limp Bizkit) - Actual collaboration with Brazil's Xavante indigenous tribe - Fusion of metal drumming with atabaques, surdo, and traditional Brazilian percussion - Igor was 25 years old, at the peak of his creative powers - The album influenced Korn, Soulfly, and the entire nu-metal movement - Single bass drum emphasized groove over speed - Maple shells chosen for warmth and blend with percussion - Lower tuning for earthy, organic sound - Minimal tom setup focused the performance - Kit designed to complement tribal instruments, not overpower them - Estimated kit value: $2,500-3,500 (1996) / $4,000-6,000 (vintage today) - Estimated snare value: $300-400 (1996) **Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/roots-drum-setup **More LLM resources:** [Site index](/llms.txt) · [Full database](/llms-full.txt) · [Master FAQ](/llms/faq.md) · [Drummer index](/llms/index.md) *Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*