I am a big fan of min/max when it comes to gaming. Trying to build up weaknesses tends to result in mediocrity at best. I say build on your strengths and be great in that. THE HU (Mongolian Folk Metal from Ulaanbaatar) has found their strength and are maxing the hell out of it. Take the pattern of their releases: It's one regular release followed a year later by a deluxe edition with the same songs as the original plus acoustic renditions plus re-mixes with guest artists. The real win is with the latter. These tracks give fans amped up versions of songs they spent a year getting to know and love leveled up with artists they likely already know and love.

By traditional measures, THE HU have two albums . . . but technically they have four. They released their debut, "The Gereg," in 2019 and the deluxe version in 2020. In 2022 they released "Rumble of Thunder" and on June 30, 2023 they dropped the deluxe. The first question is: Is this a marketing scheme or are these deluxe versions really worth it? The answer is "probably yes" and "hell yeah."

Question two: What's not to love about THE HU? They take Mongolian Folk music and amp the fuck out of it. Add to that throaty but clean vocals (aka throat singing) in a language that no one understands (aka Mongolian) and accompany it with down-tuned, melodic riffs and simple, resonant percussion (e.g., no blast beats here) rendered on instruments which I am guessing were crafted out of the literal flesh, bone, and cartilage of free roaming predators. What's more Metal than that? Just listening to it makes you want to eat meat and fight unreasonably large animals armed with exactly one knife and a fist-sized rock.

Question three: What do you get with the deluxe edition of "Rumble of Thunder"? You get the original 12 tracks-13 if you count the extended version of "Black Thunder." I won't be reviewing those tracks. That material is over a year old, which is why I am spending my time writing about the deluxe version tracks instead of some underground evil-as-shit Black Metal band from Norway.

There are seven extra tracks on the deluxe model (eight if you count the extended version of "Black Thunder"). "This is Mongol" features William DuVall (ALICE IN CHAINS). He sings in English. So, yeah, you get to find out what the song is about. Spoiler alert: It's about how awesome Mongolian warriors are. Thematically, very Power Metal. Personally, I like both versions.

Next up is "Black Thunder" featuring Serj Tankian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN) and DL (BAD WOLVES). I'm a bit torn on this one. Thematically, same same-legendary warrior kicking ass then getting memorialized in the storming skies. Verdict: I prefer the original. Done with the 90's thing.

The last of the songs with a guest vocalist is "Mother Nature" featuring LP (aka Laura Pergolizzi). I actually prefer the re-mix here. Laura's vocals are as distinctive as they are lethal. They soar, but more in an angry Valkyrie style than blithe angel style. And, yeah, this is a Metal 'zine but we give hails and horns to those who imbue the Metal spirit. LP may be indie, but LP doing THE HU compositions is pretty damned raw.

The four acoustic tracks are fair to middling. Some people prefer the resonance and roundness of acoustic; some like the blast and burn of 50,000 watts. Nice background music, I guess. And to clarify, these are fully loaded with vocals . . . just not plugged in. While I appreciate these tracks, I prefer to ride the lightning.

All in all, good stuff this deluxe album. If you already have the original album and don't mind digital, you can simply click over to Bandcamp and buy the new tracks. If you're a hardcopy collector or a completionist, well, there's a cost to pay for your affliction. Either way, definitely worth it. Go get you some Mongolian thunder, eat meat, and relish in the roar of blood in your ears as you get into touch with your inner warrior.