Mongolian metal music reaches Billboard's charts, as The Hu's "Wolf Totem" and "Yuve Yuve Yu" debut on multiple tallies dated April 20.
Formed in 2016, the four-piece from Mongolia's capital city of Ulaanbaatar released the pair of songs last fall. The Hu incorporates traditional Mongolian instrumentation and throat singing into its music, resulting in material that's often hard-hitting, though sans the sounds that most heavy metal acts might utilize, namely electric guitar.
After some initial buzz and media coverage in January, the songs, particularly "Wolf Totem," have hit new heights thanks in large part to a viral Facebook postshowcasing the track's official video with the caption, "Mongolian metal is awesome."
Thanks to that post, "Wolf Totem" bows at No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, up 1,056% to 6,000 downloads sold in the week ending April 11, according to Nielsen Music. The Hu is the first act since Bad Wolves in February 2018 to top Hard Rock Digital Song Sales with its first charting song.
Additionally, "Yuve Yuve Yu," which was not included in the Facebook post, nonetheless debuts at No. 7 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales (3,000 sold, up 929%).
Also drawing 272,000 U.S. streams, "Wolf Totem" debuts at No. 22 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Rock Songs chart.
The Hu is currently prepping a debut album, Gereg, due via Eleven Seven Records.
Source: www.billboard.com