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Metal meets Mongolian throat singing and instruments in Uuhai’s Hong Kong debut

In Hong Kong for the Asia+ Festival, Uuhai want to expand the world’s understanding of Mongolia and its culture beyond Genghis Khan

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Zorigoo Battsooj of Uuhai, who plays the horsehead fiddle (morin khuur) and performs throat singing. The Mongolian folk metal band will play in Hong Kong as part of the Asia+ Festival on September 23 and 24. Photo: Uuhai
Zabrina Lo

Mongolia and heavy metal are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, but folk metal band Uuhai are here to prove the music genre fuses surprisingly well with the nomadic culture’s distinctive vocal and instrumental traditions.

Founded in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar in 2020 by drummer and producer Otgonbaatar “Ombo” Damba, the band’s current line-up features Damba, Khurtsgerel Damiranjav (horsehead fiddler and vocalist), Zorigoo Battsooj (horsehead fiddler and throat singer), Saruul Tsogt-Erdene (vocalist), Batbayar Dulamsuren (percussionist), Dalaitseren Nasanbuyan (guitarist) and Anand Naranbaatar (bass guitarist).

Their songs feature aggressive rock-metal beats while showcasing Unesco-recognised elements of Mongolian heritage, including Khoomei (traditional throat singing), the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and long-song vocals carrying ancient lyrical themes.

Uuhai began touring internationally a year after forming and have appeared at major European festivals, including on the Motocultor Across Europe 2026 tour. In 2025, their track “Khar Khulz” exploded online, gaining 8.8 million views on YouTube. In January this year, the band released their debut album Human Herds, and in June they announced a 2027 European headline tour.

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