UUHAI (MN)

About

Formed in Ulaanbaatar in 2020, UUHAI blend traditional Mongolian music with heavy metal in a way that feels genuinely rooted rather than gimmicky. The band's name itself says a lot: "uuhai" is a spiritual mantra, a collective shout of goodwill and released energy with deep cultural meaning, and that spirit runs through everything they do. Their lineup includes horsehead fiddle players, throat singers, a guitarist, bassist, drummer and percussionist, giving them a sound that draws as much from the Mongolian steppe as from any metal stage. The project was founded by Otgonbaatar Damba, drummer for the established Mongolian heavy metal band Hurd. UUHAI kicked off with a run of music videos in 2022, including a self titled track featuring Hurd, and took their sound to Europe for the first time in 2023. They have since signed with Napalm Records and released their debut studio album Human Herds, with singles including "Secret History of the Mongols" and "Khar Khulz".