The Hu

The Hu (stylized as The HU) is a Mongolian folk metal band formed in 2016. Incorporating traditional Mongolian instrumentation, including the morin khuur, the tovshuur, and throat singing, the band calls their style of music "hunnu rock", a term inspired by the Xiongnu, an ancient tribal confederation of uncertain origins, known as Hünnü in Mongolia. Some of the band's lyrics include old Mongolian war cries and poetry in the Mongolian language.

The Hu consists of Galbadrakh "Gala" Tsendbaatar, Nyamjantsan "Jaya" Galsanjamts, Enkhsaikhan "Enkush" Batjargal, and Temuulen "Temka" Naranbaatar. They have released the studio albums The Gereg (2019) and Rumble of Thunder (2022).

Beginnings: 2016–2019
From 1924 to 1992, during Mongolia's communist period, various types of music were banned, including Western styles such as jazz and rock, and even traditional Mongolian music. The Mongolian Revolution of 1990 sank the country into a financial crisis but also led to a cultural upheaval.

Years later, the four members of the Hu (Enkhsaikhan "Enkush" Batjargal, Nyamjantsan "Jaya" Galsanjamts, Temuulen "Temka" Naranbaatar, Galbadrakh "Gala" Tsendbaatar) studied at the Mongolian State Music and Dance Conservatory, practicing throat singing and traditional Mongolian music. The singer Bayarmagnai "Dashka" Dashdondog formed the band in 2016 as their producer and songwriter, selecting students from the conservatory. With an interest in trying something new and a genre of heavy-metal music previously banned from the country, they incorporated traditional instruments and drew inspiration from the Hunnu empire in a style they called "Hunnu rock". The band adopted the name the Hu (Mongolian for "human beings").

Gala's older brother, Tuga Namgur, would later be recruited as the band's interpreter and manager.

The Hu released two videos on YouTube in late 2018: "Yuve Yuve Yu" and "Wolf Totem". On 11 April 2019, "Wolf Totem" reached #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 #7 on the same chart, while "Wolf Totem" debuted at #22 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart.

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

The Gereg (2019–2021)
The Hu released their first studio album, titled The Gereg, on 13 September 2019, via Eleven Seven Records. Gereg is a term used for a diplomatic passport from the time of Genghis Khan. In describing its sound, songwriter/producer Dashka claimed they sought to "find, study and incorporate as much of Mongolia's musical culture as they could into a rock style".

The band subsequently embarked on their first North American tour, from September to December 2019, to promote The Gereg. On 4 October, they issued a new version of "Yuve Yuve Yu", featuring vocals by Danny Case of From Ashes to New. On 13 December, the band released a remix of "Wolf Totem", featuring Papa Roach lead vocalist, Jacoby Shaddix. This version was featured in the horror film The Retaliators. On 1 May 2020, a remix of "Song of Women", featuring Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, was released online.

On 27 November 2019, the Hu received the highest state award in Mongolia, the Order of Genghis Khan, for promoting Mongolian culture around the world.

While touring in Australia in April 2020, the band was forced into lockdown at an AirBnB near Sydney for 45 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While there, they worked on the single "Black Thunder" and filmed a series of cooking videos titled "Hu's in the Kitchen", uploading them to their YouTube channel. On 28 June 2020, the band uploaded their COVID-19 relief fundraising concert on YouTube. In an interview before the event, they stated their plan to release their second album in 2021. In July, a Simlish version of their song "The Legend of Mother Swan", performed by Myrkur, was featured in the video game The Sims 4, as part of the "Nifty Knitting" stuff pack. On 3 December 2020, the band released a cover version of Metallica's "Sad but True".

In 2020, the Hu were selected as one of 53 artists to participate in Metallica's thirtieth anniversary album, The Metallica Blacklist, released on 1 October 2021. They contributed a cover of "Through the Never". All profits from the album's sales were donated to charity, with each contributing band choosing a particular cause. The Hu selected the Giving Day Charity Fund.

In September and October 2021, the band returned to North America for the Hun Tour, their first live performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They played a selection of songs from The Gereg and their forthcoming studio album, Rumble of Thunder.



Rumble of Thunder (2022–present)
On 12 May 2022, the Hu released the single "This Is Mongol". "Black Thunder" followed on 8 July, and the band announced their second album, Rumble of Thunder, which came out on 2 September. Songwriter Dashka described modern society and ancestral history as inspirations for the album, with a goal of expanding the sound outlined in The Gereg. The band would return to Australia, where they spent lockdown in 2020, in August 2022.

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

On 25 March 2024, British heavy metal band Iron Maiden announced that the Hu would support them on the North American leg of their Future Past tour.

Star Wars Jedi
The Hu's music is used in two video games from the Star Wars universe: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023). Several of their songs can be heard during gameplay, performed by the in-game band the Agasar. These include "Hohochu", "Sugaan Essena" ("Black Thunder"), and "Eseerin Vasahina".

The lyrics for "Sugaan Essena" were originally drafted in Mongolian and performed during live shows in Europe and North America. Following tour dates, the lyrics were rewritten in an alien language for use in the game. Gala claimed the band "would love to perform it (the song) in the Star Wars language we created, but it would be too hard".

Band members
Current
 * Galbadrakh "Gala" Tsendbaatar – morin khuur, throat singing (2016–present)
 * 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)