The massive sounds of The HU and Apocalyptica are almost too big to be contained, and The Van Buren shook on its foundation when the two metal bands stopped in Phoenix to share their genre fusion and unique instrumentation. Where else, after all, are you going to find a group comprising three classically trained cellists? And how often do you see the morin khuur or the tovshuur on a mainstream stage?
Apocalyptica got the crowd warmed up with an all-Metallica set, going back to their roots as a cover band. The trio (backed by their touring drummer, Mikko Kaakkuriniemi) hammed it up on stage, striking poses for the crowd and inviting them to sing along. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, and the fans couldn’t be happier that they’re celebrating it on the road. They roared their approval, even more so for the headliners who they were anticipating so eagerly.
And of course, The HU delivered. The Gold-certified pioneers of Hunnu rock are fresh off a wide variety of projects, from new singles (“The Men”, “Warrior Chant” and “The Real You”) to soundtracking a manga series to contributing to the TV and video game sync worlds. But their busy schedules only seem to have invigorated them, adding to their captivating stage presence. The crowd was transfixed by the heavy guitars and throat singing, and the band egged on their cheers.
The HU proudly share their Mongolian culture with their fans: their war cries, poetry in their lyrics, indigenous instruments, and more. So it’s fitting they closed with “This Is Mongol”, a showcase of everything they do best.
