Lost your password?

Song

Black Thunder

Artist

The HU

The HU backstory

In 2019, an NPR story shone a spotlight on ‘a band from Mongolia that blends the screaming guitars of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian guttural singing’.

Rushonrock was hooked.

Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The HU — Gala, Jaya, Temka, and Enkush — are a modern rock group rooted in the tradition of their homeland. 

The HU’s name translates to the Mongolian root word for ‘human being’.

And their unique approach blends instruments like the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and throat singing with contemporary sounds to create Hunnu Rock.

2019 debut The Gereg landed in top spot on the World Album and Top New Artist Charts. 

And The HU have sold out venues across the world in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Festival slots at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Download Festival and more have broadened the band’s appeal.

And canny collabs with Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Lzzy Hale of Halestorm ensure The HU continue to hit new audiences.

Writing and recording music for EA Games’ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gave the band another invaluable avenue to showcase their unique sound.

In The HU vocalist Gala’s own words:

“Black Thunder is the crown jewel of our second album. 

“The music video is split into two parts and conveys the core values of men through visuals.

“Our producer Dashka chose a unique location in Mongolia to shoot the video where we had a great time riding the horses in the vast grassland of our countryside. 

“We hope that our pride in our culture shines through as we aimed to bring viewers joy and a piece of our culture through this video.”

The verdict on Black Thunder

Epic scenery and a soaring soundscape make the audio-visual event that is Black Thunder essential viewing/listening.

The HU have built their reputation on expanding rock’s boundaries.

And Black Thunder is an immersive, emboldened journey of joyous discovery.

The HU’s familiarly tight tribal beats dovetail beautifully with some seriously ravaging riffs to soundtrack a mesmerising mini drama.

And the only criticism is that it all ends way too soon…

…on a suitably stark cliffhanger.

There’s the promise of much more to come and we can’t wait.

HU are you? 

Given the band’s plans for 2022 it’s a question that will become increasingly redundant. 

And about time too.

What’s next for The HU

This summer, The HU will hit stages across North America as they head out on tour with Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch and Fire From The Gods. 

The band brings their Black Thunder Tour to the UK and Europe later this year, starting in Oslo on October 26 and finishing in London at the Roundhouse on December 9.

New album Rumble Of Thunder is released via Better Noise Music on September 2.