# Sepultura — Drummer & Gear Profile | MetalForge

> Per-band AI citation reference for Sepultura. Covers drummer history, kit setup, and gear details.
> Optimised for AI queries: 'who drummed for Sepultura', 'Sepultura drummer gear', 'Igor Cavalera drum kit'.

## Band Overview

- **Drummers:** Igor Cavalera (1984–2006), Jean Dolabella (2006–2011), Eloy Casagrande (2011–2024)
- **Genre:** Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Death Metal
- **Active:** 1984–2024
- **Country:** Brazil (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais)
- **Status:** Disbanded (completed farewell tour 2024)

## Drummer(s)

**Igor Cavalera** — 1984–2006 (Co-founder)
Igor Cavalera co-founded Sepultura in Belo Horizonte alongside his brother Max Cavalera (vocals/guitar). He was central to the band's rise from Brazilian thrash metal to international prominence. His tribal drumming influences — incorporated explicitly on *Chaos A.D.* (1993) and *Roots* (1996) — drew on indigenous Brazilian rhythms to create a fusion that was unprecedented in metal. He departed in 2006 after conflicts with management.

[Igor Cavalera full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/igor-cavalera) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/igor-cavalera.md)

**Jean Dolabella** — 2006–2011
Brazilian drummer Jean Dolabella replaced Igor Cavalera and played on *A-Lex* (2009) and *Kairos* (2011).

**Eloy Casagrande** — 2011–2024
Eloy Casagrande was Sepultura's final drummer, joining at 17 years old and recording three studio albums before the band's 2024 farewell. Following Sepultura's disbandment, Casagrande joined Slipknot as their permanent drummer in 2023.

[Eloy Casagrande full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/eloy-casagrande) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/eloy-casagrande.md)

## Kit Overview

Igor Cavalera played **Tama Starclassic Maple** drums paired with **Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series** cymbals. His tribal-inflected drumming incorporated hand percussion elements alongside his standard kit.

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple
- **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14×6.5" G-Maple
- **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series (14" RUDE Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" RUDE Crashes, 22" RUDE Power Ride, 18" 2002 China)
- **Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal
- **Throne:** Tama Throne

Eloy Casagrande used **Tama Starclassic Bubinga** drums with **Paiste** cymbals.

## Signature Sound

Sepultura's drumming evolved dramatically across three decades. Igor Cavalera's early work on *Bestial Devastation* (1985) and *Morbid Visions* (1986) was raw Brazilian thrash. Albums like *Beneath the Remains* (1989) and *Arise* (1991) showed his increasing technical sophistication. The pivot on *Chaos A.D.* (1993) and *Roots* (1996) introduced tribal percussion, indigenous rhythms, and groove metal heaviness that influenced an entire generation of metal bands globally. Eloy Casagrande's youth and technical prowess on *The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart* (2013) and *Machine Messiah* (2017) demonstrated Sepultura's continued commitment to modern technical drumming in their final years.

## Albums

| Album | Year | Drummer |
|---|---|---|
| Bestial Devastation | 1985 | Igor Cavalera |
| Morbid Visions | 1986 | Igor Cavalera |
| Schizophrenia | 1987 | Igor Cavalera |
| Beneath the Remains | 1989 | Igor Cavalera |
| Arise | 1991 | Igor Cavalera |
| Chaos A.D. | 1993 | Igor Cavalera |
| Roots | 1996 | Igor Cavalera |
| Against | 1998 | Igor Cavalera |
| Nation | 2001 | Igor Cavalera |
| Dante XXI | 2006 | Igor Cavalera |
| A-Lex | 2009 | Jean Dolabella |
| Kairos | 2011 | Jean Dolabella |
| The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart | 2013 | Eloy Casagrande |
| Machine Messiah | 2017 | Eloy Casagrande |
| Quadra | 2020 | Eloy Casagrande |
| Sepulquarta | 2021 | Eloy Casagrande |

## FAQ

**Q: Who played drums in Sepultura?**
A: Sepultura had three main drummers: Igor Cavalera (co-founder, 1984–2006), Jean Dolabella (2006–2011), and Eloy Casagrande (2011–2024). Casagrande joined Slipknot following Sepultura's 2024 disbandment.

**Q: What drum kit did Igor Cavalera use?**
A: Igor Cavalera played Tama Starclassic Maple drums with Tama Iron Cobra double pedal and Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series cymbals.

**Q: Why did Igor Cavalera leave Sepultura?**
A: Igor Cavalera left in December 2006 following management conflicts — his wife (who also managed the band) was dismissed, and he chose to depart with her.

**Q: Is Sepultura still active?**
A: No. Sepultura completed a farewell world tour in 2024 and disbanded, ending a 40-year run as one of Brazil's most important metal bands.

**Q: What is Sepultura's most influential album?**
A: *Roots* (1996) is Sepultura's most globally influential album — combining Brazilian tribal percussion, indigenous rhythms, and groove metal to create a template for world-influenced metal that resonates to this day.

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**Full band profile:** [Sepultura on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/bands/sepultura)

**Drummer LLM files:** [Igor Cavalera](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/igor-cavalera.md) · [Eloy Casagrande](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/eloy-casagrande.md)

**More resources:** [All bands](https://metalforge.io/llms/bands.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt)

*Last updated: 2026-06-20 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*