YOU know you must be on to a good thing when after only two years of forming you are invited to play at one of the biggest festivals of the year.

YOU know you must be on to a good thing when after only two years of forming you are invited to play at one of the biggest festivals of the year.

And that’s just what has happened to heavy metal band The One Hundred.

The band is already being talked about as the new breed and new generation of heavy metal, bringing an element of rap, electro. hip hop and dance mix to the stage.

How many bands can you name who have had Kerrang! playlist, Team Rock Track of the Day, Total Rock Playlist, Kerrang! TV playlist, Kerrang, Rock Sound, Big Cheese and Shortlist coverage, but only played 10 shows and had 2 tracks released?

“It’s been quite crazy particularly when you think of all the stuff we have done and see it on paper,” the band’s guitarist Tim Hider told The Guide.

“It goes way over our head as it happens so quickly. We are loving every moment and trying to take it all in as it happens.” In September last year The One Hundred digitally released their debut EP Subculture on UNFD, the Australian label that is home to Northlane, The Amity Affliction and In Hearts Wake.

Working with 40deep Productions in Surrey, the six track EP features singles ‘Breed,’ ‘Downfall’ and ‘Kingsmen’. Road-testing the material became the object of the game for the next few months and the band hit the road.

Their 3rd show found them opening for Skindred and in quick succession their fifth for Sonic Boom Six. As word of mouth about the band’s live performances spread it was inevitable that festivals were just round the corner. Redfest, Alt-Fest, Hevy, Merthyr Rocks and Sonisphere all hosted The One Hundred in their first few months of existence.

Throughout November and December ‘14 the band toured the length and breadth of the UK with ‘Hacktivist’.

The lively, exhilarating shows did not go unnoticed – the band were quickly snapped up to open for Papa Roach on their F.E.A.R. UK tour in March 2015. Playing to 20,000 fans over 10 shows, they made an instant fan in Jacoby Shaddix.

The band are lined up to play the Lock Up Stage on Friday night of Reading Festival and The Pit on Saturday and Sunday. For Englefield Green based Tim and the band this is quite an achievement having also just appeared at Download.

“We’ve played small festivals before but nothing like Reading and Download. The reaction at Download we weren’t really expecting at all. We are really happy with how that went,” he said.

Tim puts down their rapid success to people listening to their genre a bit more these days.

He added: “There is a lot of metal about so more people have heard our music.” He himself is looking forward to seeing Alexisonfire and Pvris. “There’s lots of cool people playing,” the 23-year-old added. Reading Festival organisers are still looking for people to be ‘Green Messengers’ throughout the weekend.

Not only will you be able to help keep the festivals green, you will get the chance to see the performances across the weekend too! For more information about becoming a Green Messenger, the full line-up for Reading and more visit www.readingfestival.com