Year : 2013
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : Brazil , United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 121 mb
Bio:
At age six, Alec Mendonça stumbled across the Boston debut album along with some old Beatles records which changed his life forever. When he turned 14 he started playing more professionally and got a Luthier home made bass. At age 18 his grandmother bought him his first fender Jazz Bass special, even recording an album in 1996 that had some air play in Brazil but then it all came to a halt due to sickness in the family. After a hiatus of 14 years taking care of family business, Alec Mendonça was finally back to the world he loved, the music world. N.O.W. was born then, and by joining forces with stellar Brazilian Keyboardist Jean Barros, all the basis of the songs were done in Studio 430. After 3 months Alec put down 12 songs! Alec had to travel to the studio so many times he lost count of that, sometimes spending the whole day away from home for months, but it was worth it. With the demo CD in hand, he only wanted the right vocals to do it and although Alec can sing, his voice is more of a background voice. Taking his chances, he decided to send the tapes to some people he knew through the internet and caught the attention of gifted vocalist Philip Bardowell (ex-Peter Criss, Ace Frehley from KISS, ex-Beach Boys, ex-Unruly Child) who loved the songs so much that he decided to sing the songs for Alec. "Force of Nature" the debut in 2010 (ESM204) is indeed a force to be reckoned with and has so many twists and turns you will so easily get wrapped up in its universal appeal. The reviews were astounding with magazines praising how good the band sounded. After 3 years in the making a new line-up was required for Alec to achieve his so sought after sound. So Alec found what seemed to be the main ingredient for his sophomore album; the guitar player Juno Moraes. Juno is all heart and melody and his licks are to die for. A new drummer was also required and this time Lars Chriss was called to mix and master the album. Lars gave the new album the punch and life it needed so bad to sound like a real winner. During the recordings of the second album Alec also lost a very close friend who was the close we can get to an Angel at the tender age of 17 due to Leukaemia, these are the times one wonders If there's a God.... and so the result was a much darker and moodier album. Alec also found the need to transmit all the rage and pain he went through after his friend's passing and wrote a song to exteriorize his feelings, this song is ''No One Can Feel It's Over''.... It also has to be said that The NOW sound has leanings towards Foreigner and Rainbow in places…no bad thing. If you liked the first album for all the right reasons and Foreigner, Journey. We can guarantee a Magical Mystery Tour with this second instalment, full of surprises, hooks, choruses and loads of layers of guitars. NOW are back with a second album that will just set the pace again, this is a much stronger release than the debut and is bound to impress both fans old and new.
Philip Bardowell was born in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., and raised in southern California, singer/songwriter Philip Bardowell was introduced to music at an early age when he began piano lessons at the age of five. His influences include: The Beatles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Queen, Earth Wind And Fire and Bob Marley.By the age of twelve, he taught himself how to play guitar and formed his first band. At age 20, Philip worked on the road backing the Surf music genre duo, Jan and Dean as their bassist and backup vocalist. Consequently, Mike Love of The Beach Boys, hired Philip to serve as lead guitarist and vocalist in his Endless Summer Beach Band. In 1993, Philip teamed up with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley of KISS fronting Peter's band "CRISS" as lead singer and rhythm guitarist.It was after serving this role for two years that Philip discovered that he felt a void just singing and playing music for the sole purpose of entertainment and began attending Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA in search of a new purpose for his life. After a while, he was asked to audition for the praise team, and by the grace of God, he was asked to join the praise team and began serving regularly as a vocalist and musician. This led to his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. "I came to Christ by worshipping Him through song. He entered my heart through my praise and worship of Him and my life was changed forever. Philip had found a new passion in serving The Lord, but continued in his career as a professional musician Philip befriended Beach Boy, Carl Wilson, when Carl heard him sing at a birthday party for Beach Boy frontman, Mike Love. Carl called on Philip to sing his parts as a member of the Beach Boys touring band when he became stricken with cancer. After Carl's passing in 1998, Philip continued in his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the Beach Boys until 2001 when he left the band to write and record his own music and pursue other endeavors.Philip's first solo album, "In A Perfect World…" was released later that year and was met with success and great reviews. It immediately got Philip's music noticed by the likes of radio personalities Mark and Brian of 95.5 KLOS in Los Angeles who invited Philip with his newly formed band, Day After Rain, to play a one-hour set live on-air as the winner of the Mark And Brian Best Unsigned Artist competition. Philip and his band's performance on that show prompted T.V. personality, Wayne Brady to call in and invite the band to appear on the Wayne Brady Show.Philip is also known for his role as lead vocalist in the Frontline Records Christian Rock band, MAGDALEN together with former House Of Lords members Chuck Wright, Lanny Cordola and Ken Mary. He has been a part of many albums in the Contemporary Christian genre appearing on albums for Maranatha Records, Promise Keepers and Reggae Worship volumes 1 and 2 for Frontline Records.Currently, Philip is working on another record for Naples, Italy-based Frontiers Records, where he released his first solo album on the label, In The Cut, in 2005. His most recent work is collaboration with recording artist, Bruce Turgon (Foreigner, Shadowki
Album:
Today's music scene is filled with AOR Rock style bands that sound alike. So much so, it's hard to tell them apart at times.N.O.W. is one of those bands that do not seem to suffer from that problem. The band's new CD, "Bohemian Kingdom", is a classy, well written album that covers a good range of sounds and styles.The album opens with the rocking, "I'm Alive", a tune that has plenty of punch and reminds one of what you'd get if SURVIVOR ever recorded a FOREIGNER tune, or vice versa. It's a style that works well for them and singer Philip Bardowell is perfectly within his element, singing this song to its fullest."I Feel Divine" has a Lou Gramm era FOREIGNER written all over it and is instantly likable and catchy. "Strong Enough" is the first of the ballads on here and once again, Bardowell gives this tune the perfect tone. The rest of the band follow his cue and stay locked into the groove of the song. "Mary-Ann" has that great BOSTON sound with big keys and guitars duelling back and forth.The title track is a beautiful number with some tasty acoustic guitar that mixes with the heaviness of the track and the amazing lyrics. Closing the album out is the almost 8 minute track, "No One Can Feel It's Over". It's a sweeping, epic tune with more amazing lyrics and a chorus that just gets in your head like an ear worm.This is a band that sets themselves apart by doing the little things that count the most: Great production, killer harmonies and song writing. It’s a sound that is perfectly balanced.Reward your ears with this one.
Line Up:
Philip Bardowell (Unruly Child, Radioactive, Places Of Power, Magdalen, Ken Tamplin and Friends, Liberty N' Justice, AOR) - (Vocals)
Alec Mendonca (Bass, Vocals)
Jean Barros (Keyboards, Piano, Vocals)
Juno Moraes (Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin)
Diogo Macedo (Drums)
Backing Vocals:
Mike Wallace
Matti Alfonzetti
Alec Mendonca
Church Choir of Mission Viejo (California)
Guest Musicians:
Anders Loos (Bass)
Lars Chriss (Drums)
Tracklist:
01. I’m Alive (4:19)
02. I Feel Divine (4:26)
03. Don’t Go Now (4:01)
04. Strong Enough (3:49)
05. Mary-Ann (5:19)
06. Tonight Is The Night (4:55)
07. Bohemian Kingdom (4:33)
08. Leon’s Going Soft (5:37)
09. Cassie’s Dream (5:03)
10. No One Can Feel It’s Over (7:33)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
