The Hu

The Hu (stylized as The HU) is a Mongolian folk metal band formed in 2016.[1] With traditional Mongolian instrumentation, including the Morin khuur, the Tovshuur, and Mongolian throat singing,[2][3] the band calls their style of music "hunnu rock", hu inspired by the Hunnu, an ancient Mongol/Turkic empire, known as Hünnü in Mongolia. Some of the band's lyrics include old Mongolian war cries and poetry.[4][5]

Not to be confused with The Who or The Guess Who.
The Hu
The Hu performing at Rock im Park 2019
The Hu performing at Rock im Park 2019
Background information
OriginUlaanbaatar, Mongolia[1]
GenresFolk metal
Years active2016–present[1]
Labels
Members
  • Gala
  • Jaya
  • Enkush
  • Temka
Websitethehuofficial.com

History

Two videos on YouTube released in late 2018, "Yuve Yuve Yu" (28 September) and "Wolf Totem" (16 November), had together garnered over 161 million views by March 2022. On 11 April 2019, "Wolf Totem" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, making The Hu the first Mongolian musical act to top a Billboard chart. In addition, "Yuve Yuve Yu" reached No. 7 on the same chart while "Wolf Totem" debuted at No. 22 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart.[1]

On 17 May 2019, The Hu met Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, who congratulated the band for their accomplishments in promoting the country.[6] On 6 June 2019, the band released the lyric video for their third single "Shoog Shoog".[7] In June and July 2019, they performed twenty-three concerts in twelve European countries. The band released the music video for their fourth single "The Great Chinggis Khaan" on 23 August 2019.[8]

The Gereg (2019–2021)

The Hu released its first album on 13 September 2019. The album's title is The Gereg,[9] which is the term used for a diplomatic passport from the time of Genghis Khan. The Gereg was internationally released under Eleven Seven Records.[10] The band embarked on their first North American tour from September 2019 through December 2019. On October 4, the band released a new version of "Yuve Yuve Yu", featuring new vocals by Danny Case of From Ashes to New.[11] In November, their song "Black Thunder"/"Sugaan Essena" was featured in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.[12] On 13 December, the band released a remix of "Wolf Totem", featuring Papa Roach lead vocalist Jacoby Shaddix.[13] This version will be featured in the upcoming horror film The Retaliators.[14] On 1 May 2020, a remix of "Song of Women" featuring Lzzy Hale of Halestorm was released online.[15]

On 27 November 2019, The Hu were awarded the highest state award for Mongolia, the Order of Genghis Khan, for promoting Mongolian culture around the world.[16] On 28 June 2020, The Hu uploaded their COVID-19 relief effort fundraising concert on YouTube. In an interview before the concert, the band stated they plan to release their second album in 2021.[17] In July, a Simlish version of their song "The Legend of Mother Swan" was featured in the video game The Sims 4 as part of the "Nifty Knitting" stuff pack.[18] On 3 December 2020, the band released a cover version of Metallica's "Sad but True".[19]

In 2020, The Hu were selected as one of 53 artists to participate in Metallica's 30th anniversary album, the Metallica Blacklist.[20] For the album, The Hu provided a cover of "Through the Never" and the album was released on 1 October 2021 although The Hu's version of "Through the Never"[21] was published on Apple Music and Spotify on 10 September 2021. All of the profits of the album are being donated to various charities, with each band providing a cover being able to choose which charity the profits from their song are being donated to. The Hu chose to donate all of the profits from their song to The Giving Day Charity Fund.[21]

In September and October 2021, the band returned to North America for "The Hun Tour",[22] which was their first live performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring a mix of songs from The Gereg and their then unreleased new studio album Rumble of Thunder.[23]

Rumble of Thunder (2022–present)

On 12 May 2022, The Hu released the single "This Is Mongol".[24] On 8 July, the band released the single "Black Thunder" and announced their second album, Rumble of Thunder, which was released on 2 September.[25]

On 10 February 2023, the band released their music video for "This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)" featuring William DuVall of Alice in Chains on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.[26] On 30 March, the band released a remix of "Black Thunder" featuring Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz of Bad Wolves and Serj Tankian of System of a Down.[27]

Personnel

Members
  • Galbadrakh "Gala" Tsendbaatar – morin khuur, throat singing (2016–present)[28]
  • Nyamjantsan "Jaya" Galsanjamts – tumur hhuur, tsuur, throat singing (2016–present)
  • Enkhsaikhan "Enkush" Batjargal – morin khuur, throat singing (2016–present)
  • Temuulen "Temka" Naranbaatar – tovshuur, backing vocals (2016–present)

Touring members
  • Unumunkh "Ono" Maralkhuu – percussion, tumur hhuur, backing vocals (2019–present)
  • Jambaldorj "Jamba" Ayush – guitars, backing vocals (2019–present)
  • Nyamdavaa "Davaa" Byambaa – bass, backing vocals (2020–present)
  • Odbayar "Odko" Gantumur – drums (2019–present)

Former touring members
  • Batkhuu Batbayar – bass, backing vocals (2019–2020)

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[29]		 AUT
[30]		 BEL
(FL)
[31]		 CAN
[32]		 FIN
[33]		 FRA
[34]		 GER
[35]		 SWI
[36]		 UK
[37]		 US
[38]
The Gereg 112538733299241421103
Rumble of Thunder
  • Released: 2 September 2022
  • Label: Better Noise
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 —38————3818——

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
Rock
[39]		 US
Main.
[40]		 US
Rock
[41][42]		 US
Rock
Dig.
[43]		 US
World
[44]
"Yuve Yuve Yu"
(solo or with From Ashes to New)		 2018 4943572 The Gereg
"Wolf Totem"
(solo or with Jacoby Shaddix)		 3452211
"Shoog Shoog" 2019 ————24
"The Great Chinggis Khaan" —————
"Song of Women"
(solo or with Lzzy Hale)		 2020 ————4
"Sad but True" ————3 Non-album single
"This Is Mongol"[24]
(solo or with William DuVall)		 2022 —7——9 Rumble of Thunder
"Black Thunder"
(solo or with Serj Tankian and Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz)		 ————14
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos
Year Title Album
2018 "Yuve Yuve Yu" The Gereg
"Wolf Totem"
"The Great Chinggis Khaan"
2019 "Yuve Yuve Yu"
(featuring From Ashes to New)		 The Gereg (Deluxe Edition)
"Wolf Totem"
(featuring Jacoby Shaddix)
2020 "Sad but True"
—
2022 "This Is Mongol" Rumble of Thunder
"Black Thunder Part 1"
"Black Thunder Part 2"
"Bii Biyelgee"
2023 "This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)"
(featuring William DuVall)		 Rumble of Thunder (Deluxe Edition)
"Black Thunder"
(featuring Serj Tankian and Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz)

Filmography

Video games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2019 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order The Agasar In-universe band
2023 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor The Agasar In-universe band

References
  1. Rutherford, Kevin (2019-04-18). "The Hu Brings Mongolian Metal to No. 1 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-04-19."Mongolian metal sensation the Hu discuss their musical influences". Retrieved 2019-09-14.
  2. "The Hu, a New Breakthrough Band from Mongolia, Plays Heavy Metal with Traditional Folk Instruments and Throat Singing". OpenCulture.com. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  3. "'The HU,' a Mongolian Heavy Metal Band, Will Make You Want to Shred Something". The Inertia. 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  4. Cengel, Katya (2019-01-05). "How A Mongolian Heavy Metal Band Got Millions Of YouTube Views". NPR. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  5. Ortiga, Kara (2019-05-28). "This Insanely Popular Mongolian Metal Band Makes Music Using Traditional Instruments". Vice Media. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  6. "Meeting with The Hu Band". Office of the President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  7. Lewry, Fraser (2019-06-06). "Mongolian sensations The HU launch video for Shoog Shoog". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  8. Lewry, Fraser (2019-08-21). "The Hu launch trailer for new single The Great Chingiss Khan, out Friday". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  9. "The Hu Announce Debut Album, "The Gereg"". Heavy. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  10. "Mongolian rock group The Hu announce debut album". Music-News.com. 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  11. Lewry, Fraser (2019-10-04). "The Hu release new version of Yuve Yuve Yu with English vocal from Danny Case". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  12. Mercante, Alyssa (2019-11-19). "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order just made a Mongolian rock band canon". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  13. "Watch Mongolian Folk/Metal Band the Hu's New Video for 'Wolf Totem,' Featuring Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix". Rock Cellar. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  14. Redrup, Zach (2019-12-14). "NEWS: The HU partner with Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) on 'Wolf Totem'!". Deadpress. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  15. "The HU Joins Forces with Halestorm's Lzzy Hale for "Song Of Women"". Music Mayhem. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  16. "The Chinggis Khaan Order Conferred on The HU Band". Office of the President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  17. The Hu (2020-06-28). The HU - COVID-19 Relief Effort Fundraising Concert. YouTube. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  18. "Video Surfaces Of Myrkur Singing In Simlish For The Sims 4 - Hardcore Gamer". hardcoregamer.com. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  19. "Hear Mongolian Folk-Metal Act The HU Cover Metallica's "Sad But True"". RevolverMag. 4 December 2020.
  20. Gross, Joe (2021-09-10). "'The Metallica Blacklist' is An Enormous Tribute to an Enormously Influential Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  21. "The Metallica Blacklist. Coming to Digital September 10th, Vinyl & CD on October 1st | Metallica.com". www.metallica.com. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  22. "The Hu: 'The Hun Tour,' upcoming second album - News.MN". News.MN - The source of news. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  23. info@badwolfmedia.net, Mike Sorensen Bad Wolf Media special to The Herald-Whig. "The Hu discuss returning to America for 'The Hun Tour,' upcoming second album". Herald-Whig. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  24. Childers, Chad (13 May 2022). "The Hu Issue Chugging Rocker 'This Is Mongol' Ahead of New Album". Loudwire. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  25. Enis, Eli (2022-07-08). "The HU Announce New Album, Drop Stunning New Song "Black Thunder"". Revolver. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  26. "Hear Alice in Chains singer join The HU on new version of "This Is Mongol"". Revolver. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  27. "The HU Launch New Version Of Black Thunder Featuring Guest Spots From System Of A Down & Bad Wolves Members". ThePRP. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
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  39. "The Hu Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  40. "The Hu Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
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