Beginnings: 2016–2019 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. 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. 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
Jacoby Shaddix of
Papa Roach. 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 the tribute album
The Metallica Blacklist, released on 1 October 2021 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Metallica's
1991 self-titled album. 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. 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 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. On 4 October, the band released a cover of Iron Maiden's 1983 single "
The Trooper". ==
Star Wars Jedi==