The Hu: A Cultural Phenomenon

If you’re not familiar with THE HU as of right now, then that rock you’re under must be pretty heavy. Rare is the band from the eastern hemisphere that truly breaks through into western culture, but even scarcer is the one who does so while staying true to themselves. For the past decade, THE HU have mesmerised the world of metal with a style they call ‘hunnu rock’, combining galloping riffs with traditional Mongolian instruments like the morin khuur (also known as the horsehead fiddle) and the tovshuur and then topping it off with their incredible throat-singing ability, something which, as third album Hun proves, even has the power to mimic amphibians.

“That’s myself and (vocalist and instrumentalist) Jaya!” Laughs morin khuur-ist and vocalist Gala Tsendbaatar, when asked why there’s the sound of a frog croaking on the song Second Face, blowing Distorted Sound’s mind in the process. “It’s our voices overlapping, and we didn’t realise until after how it sounded! But it’s a very sarcastic song, about people who act brave behind screens, so there’s something poetic about our voices making the sound of a frog!”

Taking aim at keyboard warriors isn’t a topic that forms part of THE HU’s usual wheelhouse; the majority of their material is steeped in the folklore and legends of Mongolia which, in light of their success, means they have become cultural ambassadors for their home country. It’s why, a couple of days removed from their show supporting IRON MAIDEN on these shores at Knebworth for Eddfest, they stopped off in London for an intimate, acoustic performance at the Mongolian embassy. “It’s our custom to check in there whenever we’re in the UK,” Gala explains, “and this time around, as it was only a couple of days from Hun’s release, we played a few songs from it in a very intimate setting along with catching up with the local Mongolians and having some great discussions at the time; it was amazing!”

The band didn’t just confine themselves to the embassy, however; prior to their performance, a visit to Buckingham Palace saw them recognised on CCTV by a member of the Life Guards Squadron, who persuaded his commanding officer to give the band access to the Household Cavalry and King’s Guards, leading to photos with both the guards and their horses. It’s this sort of encounter that has made THE HU such a beloved outfit worldwide, something that was recognised by UNESCO in 2022 when they were bestowed the honour of Artist for Peace, in light of the promotion of their heritage. Does that sort of thing add extra pressure?

“It’s a big responsibility for us” muses Gala. “We’re representing thousands of years of history and culture and using traditional instruments in that representation. It’s a big deal, and it means, when we write music, that we’re in a constant headspace of trying to write music that will last for generations. So yes, it’s certainly a lot of pressure.”

When it comes to Hun, though, you’d be forgiven for hearing it and thinking ‘what pressure?’. Second Face and its frog mimicry to one side, the rest of the album sees THE HU push their creative boundaries more than ever before without straying from their roots, and the result is their most diverse and fulfilling album to date. “It’s been a great journey for us,” Gala remarks. “We specifically tried to make the songs different from one another and show the versatility of our genre, that our instruments are not limited by their origins and can be applied to everything. We wanted to showcase soft rock, hard rock, metal and everything in between, and it’s the tonality of each song that presents that.”

Universe is one such track. Clocking in at nearly nine minutes long, it combines a graceful piano line with a far gentler vocal delivery and a more progressive guitar line, creating something more atmospheric than THE HU have produced before. “The song is effectively an embodiment of the entire album’s philosophy,” explains Gala. “It’s split into three parts, each one representing the past, present and future, and we sing about what it means to live our lives, the importance of actions of consequence and, essentially, how to live like to the full. It’s an incredibly deep song and it’s probably my favourite on the record.”

Another is Echoes of My Father, which retains THE HU’s penchant for bringing their own principle to the world, but does so in a much more personal fashion. “Having a good father means a lot to all of us,” Gala reflects, “and this song aligns with the Mongolian teachings of loving one’s own father, that very intimate love that a child has for their father and dedication to their parents. It’s something that’s not discussed all the time because it’s such a delicate topic, but we wanted to bring it up and have the listener take an introspective look on their own life and how they were shaped by their own father figures.”

After a summer that has, so far, seen them tour the US on a co-headline run with APOCALYPTICA, the aforementioned stop over with MAIDEN and their biggest ever show to date in their homeland, THE HU are ready to go back out on the road with, initially, more American shows but, in the autumn, their first UK tour for over three years, seeing them play the likes of Brixton Academy as a headline act. “We’re very excited to be coming over!” Gala proclaims. “It’s been a while since we did a proper tour with you, we’re bringing a new atmosphere and new production with us, and we cannot wait to see all our fans again!”

From the humblest of beginnings ten years ago, THE HU have gone on to share stages with some of the biggest names in rock and metal, capturing the hearts and imaginations of thousands along the way. Their journey is one they’re rightfully loving and, giving the power and impact of Hun, it’s one that’s showing no signs of slowing down just yet.

HUN is out now via Better Noise Music. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS132 here.