The One Hundred (band)
English nu metal band formed in Guildford in 2014.
The One Hundred were an English heavy metal band from Guildford, formed in 2014. Their sound mixed heavy metal, hip-hop, rock, and dance, and has been described as nu metal, rap metal, metalcore, nu metalcore, rap rock, and electronic rock.
The band started as a writing and production project for vocalist Jacob Field and guitarist Tim Hider, who did not originally plan to perform live. When they realised no existing group occupied their specific musical space, they turned the project into a band. Bassist Phil Kneller joined—he had previously played with Field and Hider in the metalcore band Collapse The Control—and drummer Joe Balchin came on board in late 2013. Balchin had played in Surrey bands Open The Skies and, earlier, Fly This For Me alongside Hannah Greenwood, who later joined Creeper.
Their debut single, "Breed", was released in October 2013 and received early support from BBC Radio 1, leading to a full session at Maida Vale Studios for the Radio 1 Rock Show. A second single, "Kingsmen", followed quickly. In 2014, they recorded a cover of Iggy Azalea's "Black Widow", which premiered on BBC Radio 1. Their debut EP, *Subculture*, was released digitally through Australian independent label UNFD and earned positive reviews, with critics noting that Field's "distinctive British accent" gave them a unique sound. Before the EP came out, the band joined Hacktivist on the Download Freezes Over tour.
In March 2015, they toured the UK with Papa Roach, then played Download Festival. Later tours included Eskimo Callboy, Reading and Leeds 2015, three UK arena shows with Mötley Crüe, and a European tour with Crossfaith. In 2016, they played Slam Dunk Festival. The band released five music videos—"Kingsmen", "Downfall", "Unleashed", "Dark Matters", and "Monster"—all of which received television support from Kerrang TV and Scuzz. "Unleashed" was released as a single on 20 October 2014.
On 6 February 2017, they debuted the track "Dark Matters" from their upcoming album on Daniel P. Carter's Radio One Rock Show. A second track, "Monster", premiered on the same show on 27 April 2017. In September 2016, the band announced via social media that they had signed to Spinefarm Records, a division of Universal Music Group. Their debut album, *Chaos + Bliss*, was released on 2 June 2017 on digital download, CD, and vinyl, and received positive reviews.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Guildford, Surrey, England
- Genre
- Nu metal / rap metal / metalcore / nu metalcore
- Years Active
- 2014–2018
- Label
- UNFD / Spinefarm Records
- Current Members
- Jacob Field / Tim Hider / Phil Kneller / Joe Balchin
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The One Hundred began as a writing/production project by vocalist Jacob Field and guitarist Tim Hider, with no initial intention to perform live. When no existing group occupied their specific musical sphere, they formed a band, recruiting bassist Phil Kneller (who had played with Field and Hider in metalcore outfit Collapse The Control) and drummer Joe Balchin (formerly of Open The Skies and Fly This For Me). Their debut single 'Breed' launched in October 2013 and received early support from BBC Radio 1, leading to a full session at Maida Vale Studios. A cover of Iggy Azalea's 'Black Widow' was premiered on BBC Radio 1 in 2014. The band toured extensively across the UK and Europe, supporting acts such as Papa Roach, Eskimo Callboy, Mötley Crüe, and Crossfaith, and performed at major festivals including Sonisphere, Download Festival, Reading and Leeds, and Slam Dunk Festival. In September 2016, they signed to Spinefarm Records, a division of Universal Music Group. Their debut album, Chaos + Bliss, was released on 2 June 2017 to positive reviews. The band announced their dissolution via social media in July 2018.
Reader's Guide
The One Hundred's significance lies in their fusion of heavy metal, hip-hop, rock, and dance, a style described by critics as nu metal, rap metal, metalcore, nu metalcore, rap rock, and electronic rock. Their debut EP Subculture was noted for colliding grime, metalcore, and electronica, with vocalist Jacob Field's 'distinctive British accent' cited as giving them a unique sound. HEAVY Music Magazine classified their sound as 'a medley of nu-metal, hip-hop, and rock', while Rock Sins labeled it a 'blend of rap, electronica and metalcore'. The band received praise from Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, and Big Cheese, with the latter stating that 'The One Hundred will look back at Subculture as the EP that changed the game they are only just beginning'. Despite their dissolution in 2018, they posthumously released a live EP recorded in 2015 in June 2020. Their legacy is that of a short-lived but critically noted act that helped bridge nu metal with electronic and hip-hop elements in the British scene.
Did You Know?
- The band formed as a writing/production project before becoming a live band.
- Their debut single 'Breed' received early support from BBC Radio 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The One Hundred (band)?
The One Hundred were an English heavy metal group hailing from Guildford, active between 2014 and their dissolution in July 2018. The project originated as a purely studio-based writing and production effort by vocalist Jacob Field and guitarist Tim Hider before they decided to take it on the road.
What genre does The One Hundred (band) play?
Their sound fuses heavy metal with hip-hop, rock, and dance music, which has led critics and fans to file them under nu metal, rap metal, metalcore, rap rock, and electronic rock. Field and Hider specifically set out to fill a musical gap they felt no other group was occupying at the time.
Who were the members of The One Hundred (band)?
The lineup centred on vocalist Jacob Field, guitarist Tim Hider, and bassist Phil Kneller. Kneller had previously shared a stage with Field and Hider in the metalcore band C before joining this new venture.
What did The One Hundred (band) release?
Their debut EP, Subculture, was issued in 2014 through the UNFD label. Their sole full-length album, Chaos + Bliss, followed on 2 June 2017 via Spinefarm Records.
When and why did The One Hundred (band) disband?
The group split in July 2018, roughly a year after the release of their debut album. No official explanation for the breakup was provided in the available record, and the band has not reunited since.
More in British Nu Metal Musical Groups 1-20
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