Album review: The HU – HUN

Originally, The HU didn’t look much like they were bothered about sticking around. With unapologetically niche Mongolian throat singing and instrumentation, as well as a name that (still) feels like a funny play on that of English rock legends The Who, they appeared to be a project who would raise a few smiles on YouTube before duly drifting into obscurity.

Ten years since they first got together, though, and eight since bursting into the broader metal consciousness with the oddball folk-rockabilly of Yuve Yuve Yu, the raiders from Ulaanbaatar are on something of an unexpected rise. Third album HUN cements that standing.

Rhythm is everything. From the traditionalist battle-cry of the opening Warrior Chant to the borderline-jarring pop metal of second track Lost Soul – featuring slick vocals from Jonny Hawkins of NOTHING MORE – this is an album that understands The HU have transcended their aforementioned niche through an uncanny ability to move bodies. Yes, fans have responded to the rich international flavour that pulses through Echoes Of My Father and Shadow, too, but it’s the sheer stomp of Horsemen and Grey Hun that shines: slamming industrial songcraft like Rammstein or Rob Zombie with morin khuur and tovshuur instead of synths.

Language barriers remain, of course. While it is easy to decipher broad messaging about self-actualisation and battling resilience from Universe and The Real You, there is a strange thrill in how songs so obviously anthemic are also so tantalisingly impenetrable. Translations are out there, yeah. But as the record plays out with the jaunty ‘Wild East’ defiance of Second Face, it’s far more interesting to let the music speak for itself, a strange stream of sound that’s utterly irresisitible without sounding like anybody else. A HUN of fun.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Rammstein, Bloodywood, Amon Amarth

HUN is released on July 24 via Better Noise Music