There are few things quite like a packed 3Olympia Dublin when the lights go down, and on 6 October the venue was transformed into a meeting point between ancient Nordic mythology and the vast Mongolian steppe as French Nordic folk outfit Skáld opened for Mongolian folk metal heavyweights The Hu on their Warrior Chant Tour.
Skáld’s nine song set was shrouded almost entirely in smoke and low light, creating an appropriately mystical atmosphere from the outset. Opening with ‘Ek skal riða‘, the French band immediately drew the audience into their world of ancient chants, ritualistic rhythms and dark folk textures. ‘Ó Valhalla‘, ‘Draumakona‘ and ‘Himinbjǫrg‘ continued the spell, each song feeling like a glimpse into some long forgotten saga. Their closing number, ‘Ljósálfur‘, provided a suitably haunting conclusion to a set that relied as much on atmosphere as performance. It was an intriguing and theatrical opening act, one that left the stage perfectly primed for what was to come.
The venue plunged into darkness as an ominous introduction echoed around the room before the band exploded onto the stage. A barrage of strobes accompanied the opening notes of Lost Soul Man, and within seconds the previously expectant crowd had become a sea of raised fists and movement.
Over fifteen songs, The Hu demonstrated exactly why their fusion of traditional Mongolian instrumentation, throat singing and crushing metal riffs has made them such a distinctive force. ‘Upright Destined Mongol‘ and ‘Warrior Chant‘ brought the band’s signature blend of heritage and heaviness to the forefront, while ‘Black Thunder‘ and ‘Wolf Totem‘ landed with the kind of sheer physical impact that makes a packed venue feel considerably smaller.
Yet beneath the spectacle, there was a genuine sense of musicianship and identity. The traditional instruments never felt like a novelty layered over metal, they were integral to The Hu’s sound, giving the songs an earthy, primal character that set them apart from the usual fare.
And then came the inevitable finale. The opening notes of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper triggered another eruption from the Dublin crowd, turning the 3Olympia into one enormous singalong. It was a fittingly triumphant end to a night that had travelled thousands of years and several thousand miles without ever leaving Dublin.
Ancient traditions, modern metal and a crowd ready to embrace both. The Hu’s Warrior Chant Tour made for one hell of a night.
Skáld photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Ek skal riða
Myrkviðr
Ó Valhalla
Hross
Draumakona
Grótti
Himinbjǫrg
Yggdrasill
Ljósálfur
The Hu photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Intro
Lost Soul
Horsemen
The Same
Upright Destined Mongol
The Men
Shadow
Warrior Chant
Echoes of My Father
Grey Hun
The Real You
Black Thunder
Yuve Yuve Yu
Wolf Totem
This Is Mongol
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The Trooper (Iron Maiden cover)
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic