The HU is a Mongolian metal band that has taken the global music scene by storm since 2016. Their music is rooted in tradition yet energized by the vibrant currents of modernity, featuring Mongolian instruments such as the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) and Tovshuur (a two-stringed lute). The addition of throat singing, and robust electric guitar riffs layers the sound with an intense and commanding presence. The lyrics often draw from old Mongolian war cries and poetry, adding a sense of history and tradition that grounds their sound deeply in the culture they represent.
The band has achieved remarkable success, becoming the first Mongolian artist to top a Billboard chart. Their ascent to international fame has also earned them recognition from their home country, with personal congratulations from the Mongolian President himself – a testament to the pride they bring to their nation’s rich musical heritage. Their ability to attract crowds at concerts across the globe speaks to their universal appeal, as fans from all walks of life connect with the raw energy and emotion of their music.
Their throat singing is haunting, it is almost a primal sound that reverberated through the venue, contrasting with the metal sound of their electric instruments. It really adds a peculiar dimension to their music, it is like a cultural experience, a refreshing metal.
They played again in B90 after 2 years for a genuine joyful metal gig. The whole band performed flawlessly throughout the night after instantly capturing the crowd’s attention when they launched into their set with great enthusiasm. There was no round of observation. They delivered their best with unrestrained intensity and energy. Dressed in their traditional warrior gear, they looked as formidable as their music sounded.
In the music of The HU, there lies an extraordinary quality – a call that speaks to our primal senses. It’s a bridge to the ancient past, much like the evocative strains of pagan music that celebrate the natural world and its cycles. The band’s music taps into something fundamental, a language that predates modern civilization and resonates deeply within the human spirit.
This connection to our primal senses is particularly poignant when contrasted with the experience of many in western countries, where industrialization and the digital age have distanced us from these raw forms of expression. The polished and produced sounds that dominate western countries musical landscape are a far cry from the organic and earthy tones that characterize The HU‘s music.
Their music serves as a reminder of a collective heritage – echoes of a time when music wasn’t just entertainment but a sacred form of communication. It conjures up images of communal gatherings, of shared experiences around the fire, under the open sky, where music was a ritual that honored the forces of life and the rhythms of nature.
The band invites us to rediscover what we may have lost in the noise of modern life: a sense of connection to the elemental parts of our being. They offer a chance to reclaim a piece of that ancient understanding, to feel part of a lineage that stretches back through the ages, and to engage with music not just as listeners but as participants in a tradition that is timeless and profoundly relevant.
As a music journalist and photographer, I have witnessed countless metal concerts, each with its own signature of ferocity and flair. Yet, it is this distinctive genre – the kind that speaks to your inner ancestors, the kind that seamlessly blend age-old traditions with modernity, the kind that resonates not just in the ears but courses through one’s entire being – that refuses to let me remain indifferent.
