Millions of YouTube viewers agree, The Hu’s reverberating pulse is as alluring as it is invigorating. The product of post-Soviet Union independence and a fierce determination to preserve Mongolia’s musical heritage, The Hu was chiefly conceived in 2016 by B. Dashdondog, the band’s 52-year-old producer and songwriter who goes by Dashka. Speaking to RANGE through a translator from Mountain View, California, where they’re getting ready to perform with Five Finger Death Punch, the band confirms their excitement and satisfaction in sharing their galloping anthems with an international audience. “I enjoy Canada so much,” says founding member Nyamjantsan “Jaya” Galsanjamts. “Seeing your nature and environment gives us such a peaceful vibe. All of the people are very friendly, and because of all the beautiful nature you have you might have that great peaceful energy yourselves. It truly reminds me of home so much.” 

Adapting modern — and, yes, Western — influences into their ethno musical pathos, the ensemble melds together traditional elements such as the morin khuur (a fiddle shaped to resemble a horse, its strings and bow made of horsehair), a tsuur (Mongolian flute), a tumur khuur (Jew’s harp), and a Mongolian guitar known as a tovshuur. Plus, of course, the electric guitar, bass, and a good old blast of rock and roll percussion. 

Swelling from a quartet to an eight-piece orchestra during tours, it takes a steady hand on the reins to keep the power and playfulness of the band in check. “We are all professionals with extensive music backgrounds,” explains bassist and backing vocalist Nyamdavaa “Davaa” Byambaa. “I actually performed in the State Philharmonic Symphony. When we started everybody had to audition in order to create the band. Dashka had worked for a decade to create this band, and he had this vision, and we were the missing pieces of that puzzle. I think the most important things are your skillset and your character. You need to put out an incredible amount of hard work to tour around the world. You have to be up to the task and still have the ability to survive all of the things, the attention, and everything that you actually may face.”

Prized for their energetic live shows, refreshing approach to musical innovation and authentic content, The Hu has been embraced by appreciative hardcore music fans far and wide. Not far removed from the demonic growls of their fellow heavy metal groups, The Hu utilizes the guttural drone of Mongolian throat singing to add depth and dimension to their headbanging compositions. Dubbing their signature style “Hunnu Rock” — from the Mongolian root word for human being: “hu” — The HU slowly built their impressive debut LP, The Gereg (2019), over the course of seven years, cramming in “as much of Mongolia’s musical culture as they could into a rock style,” says Dashka.