It was only ever meant to be a one-night stand: a cheap and cheerful way to sneak into Exeter Cavern Club's Millennium-eve celebrations without paying, working or buying anyone a drink. Four boys playing twenty minutes of noise and a proper goblin-bothering heavy metal ending, "Thanks a lot Exeter! You've been great! And we've been... YOUNG CHURCH!"

Of course, like so many one-night stands, the Young Church story didn't quite run to plan. Young Church was built on the foundations of two local Exeter acts: John(bass) and Brian (vocals/guitar) had played together in Cameron, a three-piece in thrall to the potent DC hardcore of Hoover, whilst Nik (drums) and Simon (guitar/vocals) dismantled their band Clinch (who aspired more to the political posturing, garage racket, and really good shoes of TheNation of Ulysses) to get involved.

Buoyed by the success of the new year show, and realising that, with the exception of Brian, who toured Japan and Australia with punk-as-fuck Devon legends Annalise, they didn't really have anything better to do, the four friends decided to see what they might sound like in a studio. It was quickly realised that they'd probably sound a hell of a lot better if they weren't called 'Young Church', and emerged after a day's worth of demo time and half an hour trawling through the paper with a three track CD and a brand new name: Kids Near Water...