Mongolian metal is probably not something you thought you would be interested in, but The Hu are bringing it to the masses, and quite literally taking the world by storm.

The bands music videos have amassed millions of views on YouTube, and their popularity is seemingly at fever pitch right now – perfectly timed for the release of their first album.  The use of cultural imagery and instruments and the fact that they only sing in their native language has received attention all over the world, notably seeing The Hu congratulated by the Mongolian president.  The Hu are certainly going from strength to strength at the moment.

As the band prepares to release their debut album, The Gereg , Noise Pollution’s own, Shayne McGowan, was afforded to opportunity to ask the band some questions…

What exactly is the meaning of the name, The Hu?

 Hu is the root word for human being in Mongolian language. We chose this name because of the inclusive nature of the word. We would like to share our music with everyone in the world without any exclusions.

 How does it feel to be the first Mongolian act to crack the Billboard hard rock charts?

 We are honored and privileged to be on a Billboard chart as the first Mongolian act. All of the support has given us the motivation to work harder.

 Is all of the attention a bit surreal at the moment?  Meeting and being congratulated by the Mongolian President for example.

 Absolutely. We didn’t expect this much positive reaction from everyone and we’re so grateful for all the encouragement.

 How important is it for you to include elements of your culture in your music? 

 Our culture is a key element of our music. It was important for us to share our culture and ancestral history with the world so that we can share with all how beautiful the ancient Mongolian culture is. We hope that this inspired others to share their cultures and heritage as well.

 Have bands like Sepultura, Rammstein or even a newer band like Alien Weaponry played any part in influencing you to infuse your culture into the music you make?

 Yes, for example Rammstein sings in their own language yet they are very famous in the world which shows that music can overcome language barrier.

 The YouTube videos have amassed tens of millions of views so far..  Are you surprised at all by the following you currently have? 

 We are extremely happy that our music videos have been received with so much support.

How important would you say that YouTube and social media have been in spreading the word about The Hu?

Social media has been a very important part of our ability to reach wider audiences all over the world and allowed us to publish our videos and our music independently from a remote location and reach a global audience that we are so appreciative for.  If digital media didn’t exist then it would have been a longer journey from Ulaanbaatar to London and Hollywood. 

 We’ve heard four tracks from the album so far.  Can you tell us what to expect from the rest of the tracks when The Gereg is released? 

Our album has been a long journey for us. We’ve dug deep into our experiences, traditions and our spirituality to create a body of work we want to inspire the World with.

 What are you hoping to achieve with the album?

 Our message to the world via our music is reminding the importance of showing gratitude to your parents, loving your homeland, protecting the nature, loving and respecting women, respecting your country history and ancestors, and finally giving individuals an inner power and belief for their futures.

 And after the album release, how extensively will you be touring to support it?

 We’re about to start a 3-month North American tour which will have almost 60 shows including some amazing festivals.  We are so excited to see our North American fans and have some unforgettable experiences together. We’ll be touring a lot next few years.

 When are we likely to see you in Australia? 

 We’ll surely see our Australian fans sooner than you think.  

 Tell me about The Hu’s live shows – do you use any imagery to complement the music? 

 Our clothes and instruments complement our music. Also, we travel with our black banner and it’s on the stage with us.

 What sort of reaction do you receive from your audiences?

After playing in front of so many amazing crowds in Europe and the UK, we feel so much connection, love and support.  Our fans chant with us, they sing with us and they mosh with us.  After our headline shows we are so exhausted but we still go to the merch booth so we can meet and take pictures with every single fan and supporter of our music because we love them, and we want them to know our gratitude.  They are so important to us.  We feel as they are our family. And we want them to know we love and appreciate them.  

 Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions, and I look forward to the album release, and an eventual Australian tour. 

 Thank you!

There you have it folks.  The Hu are an extremely original and thought provoking band.  When their debut album, The Gereg, drops on Friday the 13th, do yourself a favour, and listen to it straight away!