Over the years there have been a few bands who have seemingly shot out of nowhere with a strong tie-in with their own culture and then mixing that with metal. The first was probably Sepultura and the mighty ‘Roots’ which is still an epic album, and close to my heart are local (to me) boys Alien Weaponry who have taken their Māori language and identity throughout the world, blasting eardrums as they go. Then there are the guys from Mongolia, The Hu. I must admit to only owning one other album featuring Mongolian musicians, and that is Dennis Rea’s ‘Giant Steppes’, yet when The Hu released the video to “Wolf Totem” the world definitely stood up and took notice, and rightly so. I must admit that I didn’t think their second album, ‘Rumble of Thunder’, is as good as the debut, ‘The Gereg’, but it was enough to send them on a world tour which somehow found a Mongolian band appearing at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2023.
The core of the band is Galbadrakh “Gala” Tsendbaatar (morin khuur, throat singing), Nyamjantsan “Jaya” Galsanjamts (tumur hhuur, tsuur, throat singing), Enkhsaikhan “Enkush” Batjargal (morin khuur, throat singing), and Temuulen “Temka” Naranbaatar – tovshuur, backing vocals (2016–present) and they are joined by Unumunkh “Ono” Maralkhuu (percussion, tumur hhuur, backing vocals), Jambaldorj “Jamba” Ayush (guitars, backing vocals), Nyamdavaa “Davaa” Byambaa (bass, backing vocals) and Odbayar “Odko” Gantumur (drums). Their vocal style immediately makes them standout, even without the different instrumentation, as it is gruff and direct due to the throat singing and incredibly powerful without ever getting into death growls. Add to that a folk style and different instrumentation combining with metal and one gets a band who truly do not sound like anyone else. Any worries I had with their second album pale into insignificance with this release which shows the band very much in their element and not at all worried about performing in front of such a large crowd, not only performing metal (not exactly a Glastonbury staple) but in a language and style which few there would be understand.
Highlights are probably the last two tracks, “Wolf Totem” and “This Is Mongol” as by now the band are truly relaxed and having fun. This is a great introduction to The Hu, and if you have been living under a rock and have yet to come across them then this is the place to start. Play loud, very loud.
Rating: 9/10
Links:
https://www.thehuofficial.com/
https://betternoise.com/