The HU in Cologne

The HU are a Mongolian rock band formed in 2016. They call their style “hunnu rock”: heavy riffs and drums built around the morin khuur, tovshuur and Mongolian throat singing. “Yuve Yuve Yu” and “Wolf Totem” established that sound on the debut album The Gereg, followed by Rumble of Thunder. The HU began The Gereg Tour in 2019, playing clubs and festivals across Europe and North America, including Download Festival. In 2022 they joined Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth on a U.S. arena tour, then supported Sabaton on the 2023 European leg of The Tour to End All Tours. Far beyond their home city of Ulaanbaatar, The HU have performed at Coachella in California and Glastonbury Festival in England.

SKÁLD is a French Nordic folk project formed in 2018 by producer and composer Christophe Voisin-Boisvinet. Its music draws on Old Norse texts, ensemble vocals and historical instruments; the group is known for “Rún,” “Ó Valhalla” and the albums Vikings Chant, Vikings Memories and Huldufólk. In 2022, SKÁLD performed on Hellfest’s Temple stage in Clisson, and the following year the group followed that festival appearance with its first North American tour.