Album Review: Uuhai – Human Herds (Napalm Records)

Long-awaited and much anticipated, ‘Human Herds’ is the debut full-length album from the Mongolian rock band, Uuhai. An album stepped in history, it will be released on January 9th, 2025, via Napalm Records.

Everyone’s got a gimmick now, don’t they!? I jest, of course, as what Uuhai offer with their throat singing, native instruments like the Horsehead Fiddle, and Mongolian language lyrics is exceptionally authentic. This is who they are, and they stand out as such a unique listen. Giving us an album that has grandeur but comes from a personal place as the band reflect on both their roots and modern society. It is an album that proves explicitly that there’s nothing gimmicky about this band.

It’s all about expression, Mongolian expression, as Uuhai pull back the curtain on their homeland, history, and personal lives. Expression that comes in rock form, albeit in a form that isn’t as immediately recognisable.

Case in point, the moody atmosphere of Beginning. An intro that shows off the breadth of Uuhai’s melodies and how the Mongolian aspects of the band create a whole new kind of soundscape. Something they expand upon in comfortable fashion with the title track, showing off more vocal layers, and Ancient Land, where flashier folk touches meet a more energised rock showcase. Rarely would anyone refer to what Uuhai do as catchy, but the latter of those tracks has infectious qualities.

It is still so expressive though, a spiritual call to action, and the Uuhai do an incredible job of transporting the listener into their world. It takes a certain kind of talent to do that with music, and while there are moments where Uuhai’s grip loosens a little, for the most part, they hold the attention tightly. Not just because a track named after the band is dramatic and enigmatic, but because a track like Dracula has faster, drum-focused, rhythm, entering cinematic territory, a track like Khurai is haunting, and a track like Khar Khulz is as anthemic as it gets for this band.

There are many impressive parts to Human Herds, but for me, one of the most impressive was the realisation that, come the latter part of the record, it was still interesting. Uuhai’s style does box them in a bit, yet this album shows how varied their sound can be. Even when things have reached ‘sugary’ levels, courtesy of Paradise, a track that will raise an eyebrow or two for its poppiness.

Whereas Uvdis takes us deep into exciting mystical territory and Secret History of The Mongols wraps things up with the kind of feeling that can only come from a band being completely true to themselves. There’s no doubting Uuhai’s authenticity, but thanks to this album, there’s also no doubting their ability to create compelling rock music.

Uuhai – Human Herds Track Listing:

1. Beginning
2. Human Herds
3. Ancient Land
4. Uuhai
5. Dracula
6. Khurai
7. Khar Khulz
8. Paradise
9. Uvdis
10. Secret History of The Mongols

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