After experiencing The Hu, no one will ever ask who they are or mistake them for another band. There’s no group quite like the Mongolian act. The Hu combines metal, folk, throat singing and traditional Mongolian instrumentation. The traditional Mongolian stringed instruments, the morin khuur and the tovshuur, combined with their deep throat singing, set the dynamic band apart from their peers.
The Hu’s inventive cover of Metallica’s “Sad But True” turned ears in America during the pandemic. Some fans took the next step by digging into the band’s self-described “Hunnu rock.” The act’s 2019 album “The Gereg,” which features the catchy singles, “Yuve Yuve Yu” and “Wolf Totem,” was embraced by a loyal U.S. base of fans.
The Hu, which is Mongolian for human beings, is an inclusive group that sings in its native tongue but that doesn’t matter to fans around the world. “I’d like to think that music has its own separate language,” vocalist-morin-khuurist Enkush said from Houston via a translator. “Music is a universal language. We don’t have to speak the same language. When I was growing up, I listened to songs that were in English. I didn’t know what the words meant but I could feel the rhythm and the energy and I loved it. So our songs do resonate with people that don’t speak our language. The songs we make are very spiritual. They go deep into the heart and can be grasped by everyone.”
Apocalyptica, a Finnish metal act, which is comprised of four cellists, is the perfect Hu co-headliner.
Apocalyptica is a string-driven act, which also has an affinity for Metallica. The band was originally a classical-style Metallica tribute act but morphed into a neoclassical metal style act without the use of guitars and bass.
“This tour has been fantastic with Apocalyptica” Enkush said. “I’m a big fan of the band. I love the way they combine classical music with rock. What they do as musicians is absolutely masterful and at the same time they’re great people. It’s fun to watch them perform on different fiddle instruments. They’re fantastic.”
Apocalyptica formed in 1993, which is a few years before the members of The Hu became fervent music fans.
During the middle of the decade Enkush and his fellow vocalists-multi-instrumentalists Gala, Jaya and Temka visited Internet coffee shops surfing the web for music.
“The Internet cafes were a thing in Mongolia back then,” Enkush said. “If you didn’t have the Internet at home, you listened to music at the Internet cafe. I listened to Metallica and rock and metal there. I had to keep up with what was going on in the world. I remember watching Metallica at the Red Square in Russia. I wanted to be part of that. I knew Metallica wouldn’t be coming to Mongolia. I couldn’t see Metallica, but it inspired me to become a recording artist.”
Enkush’s mind went back to those days when The Hu covered “Sad But True.” “To be able to record that song was a surreal experience,” Enkush said. “I was a huge fan of their “Black Album.’ They were doing something unique and we wanted to do something unique like the legendary Metallica. We want to break barriers just like they always have.”
The Hu would like to break boundaries in music and as humanitarians. The group, which wants to give peace a chance, is the first metal act named by UNESCO’s Artist for Peace.
“We want to promote a lot of different ideas and peace is one of them,” Enkush said. “I’m not just speaking about peace on Earth but peace within each of us. I’m talking about appreciating our day-to-day life. It’s not about taking all of this beauty for granted.”
The band enjoys all that it’s experiencing in America. “We’re so pleased that we caught on here since we love this country,” Enkush said. “America is about self-expression. You can be yourself here and create your art.”
It’s no wonder that Enkush appreciates the freedom in the U.S. since metal was banned not long ago in Mongolia. “But you’ve been able to do what you want here since this country was established,” Enkush said. “It’s fantastic here. We love how everything here is big. The stores are big and the houses are big.”
The concert halls, such as The Wiltern where The Hu and Apocalyptica will perform Saturday, are big. Expect the band to preview much of its third album, “Hun,” which drops in July, at The Wiltern. “We always look forward to performing,” Enkush said. “It’s been great playing the new music.”
The Hu and Apocalyptica with The Rasmus
When: Saturday, June 6
Where: The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Boulevard
Cost: $54, $62, $77 and $194.70
Info: 213-388-1400, wiltern.com