Synopsis

Sepultura perform "Roots Bloody Roots" amid stark religious imagery, shadowy catacombs, and crowded street scenes. The band's aggressive performance is intercut with capoeira practitioners, Afro-Brazilian percussionists, and imagery associated with Candomble and Catholic worship. The visual approach connects the song's confrontational metal sound with Brazil's cultural and historical identity, shifting between claustrophobic underground spaces and communal outdoor energy. Rather than following a conventional narrative, the video functions as a forceful visual statement about heritage, ancestry, and resistance.

Factoids & Trivia

• Filming took place in Salvador, Bahia, including underground catacomb locations. The setting gives the video a strong connection to Brazil's colonial and Afro-Brazilian history.

• Members of Timbalada appear in the video, bringing Bahia's percussion traditions into the visual world of a heavy metal band.

• Capoeira performers are featured alongside the band. Their presence mirrors the song's physical intensity while reinforcing the video's emphasis on Brazilian cultural identity.

• Religious imagery combines Catholic symbols with references to Candomble, reflecting the cultural mixture that the video places at the center of its imagery.

• The video received Kerrang!'s 1996 Video of the Year award and was nominated for MTV Brasil's rock video award.

• "Roots Bloody Roots" became one of Sepultura's signature songs and remained a regular part of the band's live repertoire.

• The clip was included on the home-video release "We Are What We Are" and later appeared as part of the "Chaos DVD" collection.