Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
I’ve been a rock and metal obsessive for over 30 years, and in that time I’ve seen it all: the theatrical devilworshipping of Ghost, the improbable rise of Baby Metal from Japan, and countless bands who’ve tried to reinvent the wheel only to end up sounding like a flat tyre. But every so often, something genuinely fresh crashes into the scene and right now, that something is Uuhai, a Mongolian powerhouse blending tradition with thunder.
Their new single Khar Khulz is a headbanging, warriorspirit anthem that proves Mongolian metal deserves a place in the mainstream. Already making waves at Bloodstock, and with their debut album Human Herds due in January 2026, Uuhai are sharpening their blades for global conquest.
From the first note, Khar Khulz is a collision of worlds. Dean Flying V guitars snarl alongside thundering bass, while the unmistakable timbre of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) weaves through the mix like a battle cry. Add in khoomei throat singing, those guttural, resonant tones that sound like the earth itself is singing and you’ve got a sonic brew that’s both primal and electrifying.
It’s not gimmickry; it’s authenticity. The native language lyrics are delivered with raw conviction, and even if you don’t speak Mongolian, the intent is crystal clear. When they roar “Чи хэзээ ч ганцаараа биш” (“You are never alone”), it’s impossible not to feel the sense of community and warrior brotherhood they’re invoking (OK, for sure, I had to look up the lyrics as my Mongolian is a touch rusty)
The title Khar Khulz translates loosely as “Black Abyss,” and the song explores themes of struggle, resilience, and unity. One standout line, “Харанхуйд бид хамтдаа гэрэл асаана” (“In the darkness, together we light the flame”), hits like a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever found strength in music and comradeship (thank you Google).
It’s metal as it should be: not just noise, but a call to arms, a reminder that we’re stronger together than apart. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to raise your fist, paint your face, and charge into battle. Even if that battle is just against the Monday morning commute.
Final thoughts
Khar Khulz is more than a single. It’s proof that metal is a global language, one that can be screamed in Mongolian, and played on a horsehead fiddle.
With Human Herds on the horizon, Uuhai are poised to become the next cult heroes of the metal world. So saddle up, sharpen your Flying V, and prepare yourself. Mongolian metal has arrived, and Uuhai are leading the charge.
UUHAI Live 2026
Motocultor Festival “Across Europe” Tour
w/ Nanowar Of Steel, Lone Survivors, Cold Snap, Morphium, Defecto, Deus Ex Machina, Vaughan, Lady Ahnabel
09.01.26 NL – Tilburg / O13
10.01.26 DE – Bochum / Matrix
11.01.26 FR – Lille / The Black Lab
13.01.26 UK – Grimsby / Yardbirds Rock Club
14.01.26 UK – Southampton / The 1865
15.01.26 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington
16.01.26 FR – Vaureal / Le Forum
17.01.26 FR – Limoges / CCM John Lennon
18.01.26 FR – Bordeaux / Rocher de Palmer
20.01.26 ES – Pamplona / Totem
21.01.26 ES – Madrid / Revi Live
22.01.26 ES – Barcelona / Sala Wolf
23.01.26 FR – Toulouse / Le Metronum
24.01.26 FR – Montpellier / Rockstore
25.01.26 FR – Grenoble / L’Ilyade
27.01.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7
28.01.26 DE – Munich / Backstage
29.01.26 DE – Cologne / Gebäude 9
30.01.26 FR – Le Mans / L’Oasis
31.01.26 FR – Colmar / Le Grillen
01.02.26 DE – Herford / Kulturwerk
03.02.26 DE – Hamburg / Logo
04.02.26 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
05.02.26 CZ – Prague / Futurum Music Bar
06.02.26 PL – Krakow / STUDIO
07.02.26 SK – Bratislava / Randal Club
08.02.26 DE – Berlin / Lido
UUHAI are:
Otgonbaatar Damba – Drums
Zorigoo Battsooj – Horsehead Fiddle, Throat Vocals
Khurtsgerel Damiranjav – Horsehead Fiddle, Throat Vocals
Saruul Tsogt-Erdene – Vocals
Batbayar Dulamsuren – Percussions
Dalaitseren Nasanbuyan – Guitars
Anand Naranbaatar – Bass Guitar
UUHAI online:
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE
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