Which band's 1996 album 'Roots' was a departure into nu metal?

Sepultura released the 1996 album Roots, a major departure that incorporated strong nu-metal and groove-metal influences. It was the Brazilian band’s sixth studio album and the final Sepultura record to feature founding vocalist and guitarist Max Cavalera.

Roots followed the slower, more rhythm-focused direction of Chaos A.D. but pushed the experiment further. The album used heavily down-tuned guitars, syncopated riffs, tribal percussion, Brazilian musical elements, field recordings, and contributions from Brazilian percussionist Carlinhos Brown. The band also recorded material with members of the Xavante community, reflecting its deliberate engagement with Brazilian cultural influences.

The nu-metal connection is especially notable because the album drew inspiration from Korn’s early sound while remaining rooted in extreme metal. Guests included Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, Faith No More’s Mike Patton, and DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit. Roots is sometimes labeled groove metal, nu metal, or a hybrid of several styles; those labels describe overlapping aspects of the record, but they do not change Sepultura’s identity as the band behind it.