The Hu

Rumble Of Thunder

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Genre: Folk Metal.
Released: 02/09/2022
Via Better Noise Music

Album Review: The Hu – Rumble Of Thunder

When you think about Mongolian Throat Singing, you probably don’t instantly think about heavy metal, however The Hu has been on a mission to merge the two together for some time now. Their new album titled ‘Rumble Of Thunder’ is hopefully the key to getting their unique blend of folk metal out there to a wider audience. It’s such an interesting concept I just had to give this release a try. Here are my thoughts on the new album.

Kicking the album off is ‘This Is Mongol’, a beefy track that captures the listener’s attention right from the get-go. Almost giving off an old-school rock feel besides the Mongolian throat singing, its structure has a similar feel to something you’d expect from a band like Motley Crew. ‘YUT Hovende’ brings out a more slow and calculated feel that works well with the aesthetic the band is trying to portray. Mixing folk and rock isn’t a new concept however The Hu has such a knack for making it seem effortless and this song is a shining example of that.

This kind of album isn’t going to be for everyone as it isn’t your standard release. Mongolian heritage mixed with western music makes for an interesting experience that some may not get on with. The album has some very distinctive songs such as ‘Triangle’ and ‘Segee’ that almost sound a bit too out there, however the music flows nicely and resonates in your mind for a good few hours after listening to it.

Unsurprisingly, The Hu has a very distinct style and that can be seen throughout this release. A Lot that is on offer does seem to blend into one another which is great for a full album playthrough however some songs may be forgotten due to the similarities. There are the “Bouncy” tracks such as ‘Teach Me’ and ‘Bii Biyelgee’ and then there are the “Rocky” tracks like ‘Sell The World’, ‘Black Thunder’ and ‘Shihi Hutu’. There really isn’t a bad track on this release, just a lot of similar ones. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” is something a lot of bands follow, however, The Hu have shown they are able to switch it up a little and stay true to their craft so I would be lying if I didn’t say I was hoping for a bit more.

On the other hand, this release does have one song that completely captivated me upon listening to it and that was ‘TATAR Warrior’. This song has grit, aggression and a tonne of spirit. The vocals melt delicately into the instrumental behind them and it is such a joyous listen right at the death of the record.

‘Rumble Of Thunder’ is a good album and will certainly please fans of the ever-growing folk-metal genre. The Hu has done an amazing job getting their name out there with their live performances and has managed to capture a lot of the energy they put out there in this release.