One thing you can say about Sepultura in the ’90s is that they never made the same record twice. Following up their breakthrough album Chaos A.D. with Roots, which the Cavalera brothers are currently taking on the road, their decision to work with Korn producer Ross Robinson threw some people for a loop. Including Korn. In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, the band not said that they noticed the similarity, and they weren’t very happy about it initially. Jonathan Davis comments:
“One that I thought was a big compliment, but I also thought was fucked up, was Sepultura’s Roots album. That was just a blatant Korn rip-off, and I had it out with producer Ross Robinson about that, because he just took our sound and gave it to Sepultura. My young brain couldn’t handle it. But they were one of our biggest influences, so I guess they get a pass. And that’s a classic album, so it’s all good.”
Korn guitarist James ‘Munky’ Shaffer adds: “Here’s the thing – that was us trying to imitate them! When Sepultura released Chaos A.D.in 1993, that was a huge influence on us, and it’s still one of my favourite records. Now I’m older, I can appreciate art inspiring art.”
It’s good to know that 23 years removed, Korn can finally move on. Maybe it helps that they’re not on meth like they were when they first got jealous.
