Stream Mongolian Folk Metallers Tengger Cavalry's New Album, 'Die on My Ride'

We first met Mongolian folk metallers Tengger Cavalr yback in 2015, when founder and main composer Nature Ganganbaigal was still juggling NYU classes with his dreams of touring the States. The release of the band's 2015 album Blood Sacrifice Shaman caught the attention of the global metal community; with its innovative, unique combination of Mongolian throat singing and traditional Central Asian instrumentation with thrashy riffs and guttural howls, Tengger Cavalry simply didn't sound like any other band in existence. The hype around that album also led to the band playing a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall, and a raised profile that saw the project add more members, start venturing into the touring world, and refining its sound via several releases—EPs, a live album, and a string of covers, including two eyebrow-raising Avril Lavigne tracks.

On their latest full-length, Die on My Ride, Tengger Cavalry gallops off in more of a groovy, melodic, modern metal direction—the riffs chug more than they howl, industrial elements become more prominent, there's a much greater focus on clean vocals than their trademark throat singing, and there's even a whiff of Autotune on the mournful love-lost song, "Ashley." It's an altogether more personal and emotional statement than we'd come to expect from the band, whose bread and butter had always been Mongolian culture and folklore. Die on My Ride won't do much for extreme metal fans who initially picked up on the band, but for diehard Tengger Cavalry fans, it's simply the next chapter in this wildly unique, endlessly creative band's journey.

Listen to Die on My Ride below (out via M-Theory Audio on June 2), preorder it on CD and vinyl format via M-Theory Audio or digitally via the band's Bandcamp page. and read an in-depth statement about the album from Nature Ganganbaigal below.

"Die on My Ride is more creative in comparison to our last few albums in terms of mixing and instrumentation, I think. We didn't have as many restrictions or rules locking us into the traditional folk sound, but rather incorporated more creative usage of the instruments. We didn't just marry ourselves to the "classic" or "native" way of using the instruments this time around. That said, we still used many instruments that fans of the band are now familiar with, like Mongolian Morin Khuur fiddle, Central Asian dombra of Kazakhstan, jaw harp, and some Siberian shamanic drum sounds. This record is very emotional for me. In comparison to our other records, Die On My Ride is more about individual perspective as a human being, not based on a specific background or culture. It explores individual feelings, struggle and taking hold of your own dreams and passions, and of course discusses the isolation and discriminations that individuals experience, both in the past and now. This album is for those who want to live above judgement and restriction, for those who seek true freedom and a sense of responsibility and ownership of their own life and choices. While I personally haven't experienced a heightened amount of direct racism lately, many of my close friends of color and different ethnicities have. I've had the chance to listen to them and feel for them, and some of that is expressed on this record. It is important for me to listen to and understand them, as we all stand as one race of human beings."

TENGGER CAVALRY Headline Tour Dates w/ Felix Martin +
Malphas June 3-13
Helsott June 18-June 27
Sicocis June 28-July 8 6/03 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
6/04 – Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks
6/05 – Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
6/06 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo
6/08 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
6/09 – Indianapolis, IN @ Taps Live
6/10 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
6/11 – Fargo, ND @ Aquarium
6/13 – Winnipeg, MB @ Windsor Hotel
6/14 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos
6/15 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
6/16 – Calgary, AB @ Distortion
6/18 – Vancouver, BC @ The Astoria
6/19 – Seattle, WA @ Highline
6/21 – Portland, OR @ Dantes
6/23 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
6/24 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
6/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Club Red
6/27 – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
6/28 – Kansas, City MO @ Riot Room
6/29 – Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone
6/30 - St Louis, MO @ Fubar
7/01 – Nashville, TN @ East Room
7/02 - Johnson City, TN @ The Hideaway
7/03 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
7/04 – Asheville, NC @ Mothlight
7/05 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
7/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ Fire
7/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus
7/08 – Manchester, NH @ Jewel
7/21 - Simandre-sur-Suran. France @ Ragnard Rock Fest 2017
8/5 - Wacken Open Air
8/19 – Borre, Vestfold, Norway @ Midgardsblot Metalfestival