Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
I’d imagine the gang within The Hu are riding pretty high right now. This relatively new group of noise makers from Mongolia performed to over 30,000-40,000 people at Knebworth at Eddfest just a couple of weekends ago. So how did these guys from over 3000 miles away, get the recognition and following that they needed to be even considered for such an occasion.
Well, I don’t know is the answer! And who cares (no pun intended, or was it!?), because The Hu are just awesome, that’s all you need to know! Sure, it might have helped that they covered Iron Maiden’s ‘The Trooper’ which if stories are true, the galloping bassist himself, Mr Steve Harris, enjoyed the Mongolian folk metal version of his famous storey line.
It was just a few weeks ago that I sat down and reviewed their debut single of their latest record, Hun, released this very day. Having never heard them myself but having a penchant for the more ‘tribal’ tunes, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Whilst it’s a pretty weak comparison, think of Rammstein (the foreign language influence), then add a dash of Kiowas from Sepultura, and sprinkle in some warrior spirit from Amon Amath, and you’ve got a mix of native stringed instruments, a thumping motivating war beat, and a language that is utterly captivating despite not having a clue what it all means.
With a very apt opening, ‘Warrior Chant’ is basically what The Hu is about. Check out that thumping, almost, ‘Kiwi Haka’ style from New Zealand, rallied along by string and bow bass notes. Powerful, deep, gruff voices overlay a steady progressive beat. It’s something you’ve never heard, and yet already feel comfortable with.
Taking a turn into Track 2, we combine The Hu with Nothing More. Pardon my naivety rock fans, I had to look up who ‘Nothing More’ are/is/were. And Johnny Hawkins is very much the rocker from Texas he always was. I just knew more about The Hu from Mongolia, than I did about our friends from across the pond. I wouldn’t say this track is typical, in fact, it’s probably a more deliberate collaboration to demonstrate adaptability and diversity across The Hu’s musical talent.
‘The Men’ is just over 3 and half minutes of further musical talent demonstrated. The Hu are proud of their music, their heritage and their musical influences. This isn’t a band that wishes to softly introduce what they have to offer. It’s a band that are saying ‘we are fucking different, and able to blow ya socks off with something new!’. And I get it. It’s almost impossible not to like. Sure, it isn’t an 80’s shredding Jackson guitar, or thrash metal ESP giving it large on stage. But nor does it ever pretend to be or want to be.
Often the tracks are interwound with delicate intricacy, emotion, and a heartfelt connection that fans can get down with. Despite not understanding the lyrical content, ‘Echoes of my Father’ is a song that ignites the strongest of emotions, regardless of where you are in the world. As a listener, you just get it.
It’s such a new sound, it’s actually quite hard to convey what it’s like, and how it sounds. Who knew that even elements of panpipes and mental images of soaring eagles over the mountainous planes would be so present in a rock album. You can nearly ‘see’ the music.
Which brings me on to something these guys do have, which is something out of this world for a band so infant. I say infant, they are ten years old (the band, not the members), so in terms of ages of musical groups, they’re still pretty young. But I digress, what am I talking about. Their ability to relate to and get a crowd rallied up is nothing short of mesmerising. Think William Wallace in Brave Heart. The speech on the horse, all about freedom… you remember? The Hu are a musical version that. Seeing tens of thousands of rock revellers in 30-degree heats at Knebworth totally enchanted and motivated by the groups front man (or is that men?) was quite the experience to behold. An army of rock fans ‘Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu! Huuuuu!’
The album rolls on at pace, and songs like ‘Horseman’ and ‘The Real You’ being particular highlights (maybe due to the live memories!)
I’m not sure I’ve ever reviewed a band where I can say the records, and live performances, can’t be considered in isolation. The Hu are an experience. Their albums act a soundtrack to their live performances. And it’s a performance you need to see.
After supporting Iron Maiden, these guys will fly, as they would have attracted 40,000 new fans in just one afternoon. As the sun blazed down, glistening from the tears of emotion the band admirably displayed, these culture clad uber talented rockers will set the scene on fire. And then probably cook on it.
Fair play guys, you’ve absolutely nailed this one.
THE HU 2026 UK/EU TOUR WITH SKALD:
9/29 — Glasgow, Scotland — O2 Academy
10/1 — Bristol, England — Prospect Building
10/2 — Bournemouth, England — O2 Academy
10/3 — Newcastle, England — O2 City Hall
10/5 — Belfast, Northern Ireland — The Telegraph
10/6 — Dublin, Ireland — 3Olympia Theatre
10/8 — Birmingham, England — O2 Academy
10/9 — London, England — O2 Academy Brixton
10/10 — Manchester, England — O2 Apollo
10/11 — Norwich, England — UEA
10/14 — Brussels, Belgium — Ancienne Belgique
10/15 — Hamburg, Germany — Sporthalle
10/17 — Munich, Germany — Tonhalle
10/18 — Berlin, Germany — Columbiahalle
10/19 — Warsaw, Poland — Stodola
10/20 — Warsaw, Poland — Stodola
10/22 — Cologne, Germany — Palladium
10/23 — Utrecht, Netherlands — TivoliVredenburg
10/24 — Tilburg, Netherlands — 013
10/27 — Paris, France — L’Olympia
10/28 — Lyon, France — Le Radiant
10/30 — Zurich, Switzerland — X-Tra
10/31 — Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg — Rockhal
THE HU ONLINE:
Facebook | X | Instagram | Website | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube
