Live report THE HU & SKÁLD, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg – October 15th, 2026

Heavy metal from Mongolia? It wasn’t exactly common in the history of rock and metal. The band that put the country on the metal map was The HU. Their breakthrough came in 2018, and a year later, they played their first show outside Mongolia. I got to see them myself in 2020 at a sold-out Melkweg in Amsterdam. Six years on, The HU have established themselves as a fixture on the international metal scene and just released their new album, HUN.

Now they’re back on the road, bringing the new material to the stage, with a stop at Hamburg’s Alsterdorfer Sporthalle among the dates. Joining them as support are France’s Skáld, who also have new music to share.

SKÁLD

SKÁLD take the stage first. The Sporthalle Hamburg is still mostly dark, lit only by a sparse wash of blue. Framed by two large stage banners featuring stylized trees also seen in the artwork for the band’s new album, the musicians step into view.

It makes for a mystical opening to SKÁLD’s set, with the atmosphere enhanced by the scent of what appears to be an oversized incense stick. Opening with two new songs, “Ek skal riða” and “Myrkviðr,” comes as little surprise. Four tracks from Ørlǫg make the setlist overall, surrounded by selections spanning the band’s career, with the debut album Vikings Chant getting a particularly substantial share of the spotlight.

SKÁLD deliver a heavily rhythm-driven show, with drums and percussion firmly at the center. The pulse is engaging throughout and develops a hypnotic quality as the set progresses, reinforced by the vocals. Their range moves from ethereal clean singing to darker, almost growled passages, giving the performance plenty of contrast.

It also seems that a fair number of fans made their way to the Sporthalle specifically for SKÁLD. The enthusiastic response from the crowd makes that clear enough, with the band receiving a warm reception from the start.

(click on pics to enlarge)

The HU

Compared with their appearance at Melkweg, The HU come across as a more seasoned, tighter and more confident band tonight. Back then, there was still a sense of nervousness that came with playing shows outside Mongolia. Tonight, Gala, Enkush, Jaya and Temka look far more settled into their role and clearly understand where they stand in the rock and metal world. At the same time, there is a genuine sense of humility and gratitude coming from the stage. The audience picks up on it immediately, creating an easy, positive exchange between band and crowd.

Like SKÁLD, The HU have recently released a new album. HUN dominates tonight’s set, with eight tracks making their way into the show.

After System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey!” serves as the cue that the show is about to begin, the in total eight Mongolian musicians launch straight into “Lost Soul” and “Horsemen.” Gala, Enkush, Jaya and Temka remain the focal point throughout, backed by instruments such as the morin khuur and jaw harp—sounds that are still unusual sights at a metal show. It doesn’t take long, though, to realize that this is very much a rock and metal performance. The HU are loud and forceful, filling the Sporthalle with a dense, tightly locked-in sound that delivers what the crowd came for.

This is the Warrior Chant Tour, and the emphasis on rhythm makes the name easy to understand. Repeated rhythmic patterns are a defining feature of the set, building momentum through repetition rather than relying on constant changes.

The stage production itself is relatively restrained, with a backdrop displaying nothing more than the band’s name. It reinforces the idea that the music is meant to remain the main attraction. There is one notable visual shift before “Black Thunder.” After a brief moment of darkness on stage, an oversized warrior figure appears at the center of the stage, adding another layer to the presentation. It fits the mood, although the show hardly needed the extra visual push—the music already carries enough weight on its own.

“This Is Mongol” closes the regular set before The HU return for an encore with a cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.” Their take on the Maiden classic puts a distinctly Mongolian stamp on the song and provides an interesting final turn to an 80-minute set packed with musical passion.

The HU have clearly established themselves within the metal world. Even if the novelty of their cultural background eventually fades into the background, the band now has enough experience and confidence to let the songs speak for themselves—and they hold up just fine on their own.