# Igor Cavalera
**Igor Cavalera** (full name Igor Graziano Cavalera; credited as **Iggor Cavalera** since 2007; born 1970 in [Belo Horizonte](https://www.edgepedia.org/belo-horizonte), Brazil) is a Brazilian drummer who co-founded the thrash and groove metal band [Sepultura](https://www.edgepedia.org/sepultura) with his older brother Max in 1984 and played in the band until 2006[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511). He is known for building metal drumming on a samba and African-percussion foundation, a fusion he describes as his trademark, and for the albums *Arise*, *Chaos A.D.*, and *Roots*, on which Sepultura incorporated Brazilian rhythms and indigenous collaboration into extreme metal[4](https://noecho.net/interviews/igor-cavalera-on-his-favorite-drummers-early-sepultura-work) • [2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/). With Max he later co-founded [Cavalera Conspiracy](https://www.edgepedia.org/cavalera-conspiracy), and he has also worked in electronic music with the DJ duo Mixhell, the Belgian band Soulwax, and the noise duo Petbrick[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; full name Igor Graziano Cavalera[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511) |
| Sepultura | Co-founder and drummer 1984–2006; ten studio albums[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511) • [2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/) |
| Commercial peak | *Roots* peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and became a platinum release[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm) |
| Departure | Left Sepultura in June 2006, citing "artistic differences"[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion) |
| With Max | Inflikted (2008), then Cavalera Conspiracy (three albums 2011–2017), rebranded as Cavalera with re-recordings of early Sepultura works in 2023 and 2024[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) |
| Other projects | Mixhell (DJ duo with wife Laima Leyton), Soulwax (drummer since 2016/2017), Petbrick (with Wayne Adams), session work for Ladytron and Strife[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511) |
| Equipment | Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Axis pedals[5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm) |
## Early life and the founding of Sepultura
Cavalera began drumming at about age seven in Belo Horizonte, playing samba; his first kit was a snare, a floor tom, and a cymbal mounted on a broom stick[4](https://noecho.net/interviews/igor-cavalera-on-his-favorite-drummers-early-sepultura-work). He fell in love with rock music after seeing Queen in concert with his brother Max, who was one year his senior, in 1981[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521). The environment was unpromising for metal: as he recalled, "In Brazil, especially in the early 80s, it was all about Samba – nobody would talk about metal"[7](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/iggor-cavalera-talks-global-metal).
The brothers founded Sepultura in 1984[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521). On *Bestial Devastation* Cavalera played the majority of the beats without using his feet[4](https://noecho.net/interviews/igor-cavalera-on-his-favorite-drummers-early-sepultura-work).
## Roots and the Brazilian turn
On *Roots* the classic lineup fully embraced its Brazilian heritage, incorporating elements of Brazilian music into 1990s extreme metal[8](https://www.grammy.com/news/2021-sepultura-roots-25th-anniversary-interview/). For the album's centerpiece "Itsari," the band traveled into the state of [Mato Grosso](https://www.edgepedia.org/mato-grosso) to collaborate with the Xavante, and the renowned Brazilian percussion master Carlinhos Brown also contributed to the album's multicultural perspective[8](https://www.grammy.com/news/2021-sepultura-roots-25th-anniversary-interview/). Cavalera is additionally credited on timbau (tracks 12 and 13) and djembe (track 9) on the album[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511). Commercially it was the band's high point: *Roots* peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and became a platinum release[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm).
## Departure from Sepultura
Brazilian press states that Max left because he did not agree with the dismissal of his wife, Glória Cavalera[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/). Igor remained with Sepultura for another ten years[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/).
Igor's own exit came in 2006. He announced a break from the band's touring activities, and left in June 2006 citing "artistic differences," five months after that announcement[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion). AllMusic describes the same sequence as a planned temporary break that he decided to make permanent, and notes that in 2006 he made a surprise on-stage appearance with Max at a memorial show for Owens[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521).
## Cavalera Conspiracy and other projects
The brothers' project released the self-titled album *Inflikted* in 2008 before rebranding as Cavalera Conspiracy; after three albums under that name from 2011 to 2017, they changed their name again to [Cavalera](https://www.edgepedia.org/cavalera) and re-recorded several early Sepultura works in 2023 and 2024[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521). In a Zildjian artist profile, Cavalera listed his projects as "Cavalera Conspiracy, Mixhell, Soulwax and Petbrick"[9](https://zildjian.com/blogs/artist/igor-cavalera).
His work outside metal has been substantial. With his wife Laima Leyton he co-founded the DJ duo Mixhell, performing at festivals including [Glastonbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/glastonbury), Bestival, and Reading[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511). In 2013 he moved to London with his family, and in 2016 he joined the Belgian electronic band Soulwax, recording drums for their album *From Deewee*[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion); AllMusic dates his Soulwax drumming from 2017[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521). He co-founded the noise duo Petbrick with Wayne Adams, and played session drums for the English synthpop band [Ladytron](https://www.edgepedia.org/ladytron) on their 2019 self-titled album[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511). His discography also includes guest appearances on albums by [Nailbomb](https://www.edgepedia.org/nailbomb), Massacration, Rita Lee, Titãs, and the singer Lenine[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/).
## By the numbers
The documented commercial figures center on *Roots*: number three on the Billboard 200 and a platinum certification[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm). His recorded output counts ten studio albums with Sepultura and three with Cavalera Conspiracy[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/). His Sepultura tenure lasted 22 years, from the 1984 founding to the June 2006 departure[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521) • [6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion).
## Style, technique, and equipment
Cavalera's drumming is built on samba and African beats, which he learned before entering rock: "Samba/African beats were a big part of my start as a drummer, so I started to introduce those flavors to my metal beats, and somehow it became my trademark"[4](https://noecho.net/interviews/igor-cavalera-on-his-favorite-drummers-early-sepultura-work). He describes the samba base of his playing as natural rather than researched, saying that on *Roots* the Brazilian elements "felt a lot more natural than a few years before when I was trying to play just like a rock drummer"[5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm). Brazilian press credits him as the first to include Brazilian rhythms in heavy metal[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/).
His Sepultura-era setup used Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Axis pedals[5](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm). His endorsed Zildjian cymbal setup comprises a 14-inch hi-hat, 18-inch and 19-inch crashes, an 18-inch china, a 20-inch ride, and a Z bell[9](https://zildjian.com/blogs/artist/igor-cavalera).
## Standing
Brazilian specialist press calls him "o maior baterista brasileiro de Heavy Metal da história," the greatest Brazilian heavy metal drummer in history[2](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/). Although both brothers have been out of the band for decades, their impact on the metal world remains, in the judgment of the Louder profile of Iggor[7](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/iggor-cavalera-talks-global-metal). The 2023–2024 Cavalera re-recordings of early Sepultura material returned the brothers' collaboration to the band's early catalog[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521).
## References
1. [Igor Cavalera — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/igor-cavalera-mn0000091521)
2. [Igor Cavalera: baterista completa 49 anos nesta quarta-feira, Roadie Metal](https://roadie-metal.com/igor-cavalera-baterista-completa-49-anos-nesta-quarta-feira/)
3. [Igor Cavalera, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Igor_Cavalera/4511)
4. [Interview: Igor Cavalera on His Favorite Drummers, Early Sepultura Work, No Echo](https://noecho.net/interviews/igor-cavalera-on-his-favorite-drummers-early-sepultura-work)
5. [Sepultura: Igor Cavalera (interview), Pertout](https://pertout.com/Sepultura2.htm)
6. [Ex-Sepultura Drummer Igor Cavalera on Satanic Imagery in Early Brazilian Extreme Metal Scene, Blabbermouth.net](https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-sepultura-drummer-igor-cavalera-on-satanic-imagery-in-early-brazilian-extreme-metal-scene-it-was-an-act-of-rebellion)
7. ["In Brazil, especially in the early 80s, it was all about Samba – nobody would talk about metal." Five minutes with Sepultura legend Iggor Cavalera, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/iggor-cavalera-talks-global-metal)
8. [The Roots of 'Roots': Sepultura's Game-Changing Metal Masterpiece At 25, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/2021-sepultura-roots-25th-anniversary-interview/)
9. [Igor Cavalera, Zildjian Artist](https://zildjian.com/blogs/artist/igor-cavalera)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Heavy metal › Heavy metal rhythm sections and instrumentalists › Heavy metal drummers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license