“We are trying to create paths for Mongolian artists,” Galbadrakh Tsendbaatar –otherwise known as Gala, band leader of The HU, says. “We’re singing about our culture, and we use Mongolian instruments. We’re very proud of those ancient instruments while mixing them into Western culture, and proud of the fact that we’re making universal music. We hope to have even more people around the world become interested in Mongolian language and culture, and that’s why we do what we do.”If you hadn’t already gathered from those words alone, The HU is a fantastically unique force of nature. A musical sensation formed in 2016 in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, the quintet is the pioneers of the Hunnu Rock genre, with almost 900 million global streams to their name –and counting. The band’s debut album, The Gereg,put them on the map: not just in Mongolia, where they were the first group ever to be awarded the prestigious Chinggis Khaan Order, but even a galaxy far, far away where theycontributed a song to the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordersoundtrack. A few years later, The HU joined the likes of Elton John, St. Vincent, and Ghost on the epic tracklist for The Metallica Blacklist, performing a distinct, formidable cover of “Through The Never” at the request of the metal legends. The band’s 2022 sophomore album Rumble Of Thundertook The HU to iconic stages worldwide, including England’s Glastonbury Festival and North American arenas supporting Iron Maiden. Not bad going for a band whose songs are entirely –and very deliberately –in their native tongue.“The lyrics are all Mongolian, and that is a really important aspect of our band,” Gala, who is also the group’s throat singer and morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) player, says. “If you learn the language and translate our lyrics, you’ll understand the context even more –the background of why we chose these words. Hopefully, we will encourage people to speak more Mongolian and become interested in Mongolian culture. It’s a very rich culture, and it needs to be represented.”A decade into their remarkable career, the laser-like focus of The HU –founded by producer Dashka, and completed by members Jaya (tumur hhuur, tsuur, throat singing), Enkush (morin khuur, throat singing), and Temka (tovshuur, backing vocals) –is clear for all to see. Their first two captivating records made good on their promise to share their rich heritage with the world. Now, the quintet is using these eye-opening experiences as positive fuel to take things even further, as reflected in their new album,set for release on July 24 through Better Noise. Titled HUN, which translates to “human” in their native language, the album holds special meaning for the band. Originally called Between the Heaven and Earth,the album was intended to be understood as something natural and true, akin to human life on Earth, which is why they chose HUN to best represent it.Recorded at Nature Sound Studio in Ulaanbaatar and co-produced by Dashka and Nothing More frontman Jonny Hawkins, the 11-song collection sees The HU take the next step with their world-conquering sound, steeped in the lore and legend of their homeland. Here, the band explores creating music that represents the grimmer side of humanity, rocking more intently than before. Specifically, the band set out to understand human evocable emotions and to travel through history, connecting the present through songwriting and melodic patterns. HUN’s creative process challenged The HU emotionally. The band points to “Father” as a prime example of this. With its heartwrenching lyrics, the song’s recording process was extremely challenging, as they had to go through many sessions and couldn’t stop sobbing or feeling emotional as they traced their own fathers’ experiences, which segued into their personal ones. Another standout song is “Horsemen.” Focusing on the deep connection between Mongolian nomadic culture and the horse, The HU captured the essence of the animal and the band’s relationship with its native land. Sticking with this philosophical theme, “Warrior Chant” features a hard-charging chorus and a tight, taut, metallic soundscape. Between the horse-head fiddle, signature rhythm, and instantly recognizable delivery, the song immediately amplifies everything that The HU fans love about the band. “We can’t stop but wonder about the philosophy of our fathers and how much it applies to our lives even today,” they say of “Warrior Chant.” “Simple yet true messages like the importance of being a good human, to be strong-willed to protect the weak, and being united as humans are sung in.” Even with its heavier, edgier sound, HUNis, at its core, similar to previous albums, specifically in its signature rhythms and original riffs, which use traditional instruments people love. That attitude and sound are epitomized on the urgent “Lost Soul.” Featuring guest vocals from Hawkins, the percussive, groove-laden soundscape evokes the extremes of Mongolia’s unforgiving climate. A head-nodding riff tosses and turns beneath propulsive verses, giving way to a melodic refrain from Hawkins who sings its infectious chorus, “Born to be a lost soul.” These English-sung affirmations lock into a seamless volley with traditional Mongolian chanting, uniting styles and cultures in one burst of boundary-breaking energy.Resonating beyond all borders, “Lost Soul” trumpets a message of resiliency, fortitude, and strength that translates positively into any language and anywhere in the world.The HU’s ever-loyal followers won’t be disappointed with the power-packed and resonant HUN. Their devotedness is something the band is well aware of. Gala praises their fans for being “the best” and stresses that the band felt “no pressure” from them going into this album. Their understanding and patience have allowed them to focus on what’s important: the music.“We took our time to do this right, and I’m so glad that we’re almost ready to release what we have worked on these past few years,” Gala says of the process. “Now, we are also focusing on the performances and working out a brand-new setlist. We want to play bigger venues so we can do extensive production, bring in some amazing elements of our culture, and play these ideas to our fans. And, as well as our third album, we have some amazing ideas for another album already!”
