• Dear readers,

    This week, it has been announced that American company Nike will become the kit supplier for all of Germany's national football teams from 2027 onwards. The American company will apparently pay around one hundred million Euro per year for this stunning deal that runs from 2027 until 2034.

    Despite this excellent deal, numerous self-proclaimed experts in Germany have verbally run amok ever since the news has been confirmed. Those radicals claim that Germany should favour a German company like Adidas over an American one such as Nike. Those nostalgic fools claim that Adidas will have been supplying the kits for seventy-two years by the end of its contract. Sports enthusiasts will claim unrelated facts such as Germany winning for World Cup titles, three European Championship and one Confederations Cup with Adidas kits.

    These reactions show once more that such self-proclaimed experts are conservative, patriotic and radical. Such remarks prove that these people are still living profoundly in the past.

    However, it doesn't matter what kit was supplied seventy years ago. It doesn't matter what kind of shoes you wore when you first played football sixty years ago. It doesn't matter what kind of excellent reputation Adidas had fifty years in the past.

    What matters is the here and now. In times when German football has been struggling for the last decade without truly recovering thus far, it has been the right step to initiate profound changes to build another successful football era. This includes coaching changes, young players debuting for the teams and a modern kit supplier that doesn't rely on reputation and tradition but on financial and material quality instead.

    Needless to say that I am in favour of the shift from Adidas to Nike. After seventy-two years of stability, the time has come to try out something new. Instead of complaining about that fate, Adidas should interpret this decision as a motivation to innovate and outclass its competitors to become suppliers again in the future. Healthy competition makes this world go around.

    Just Say Nike!

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  • Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project (2024)

    Bruce Dickinson's seventh studio record The Mandrake Project has been in the works for two decades and comes a whopping nineteen years after his last solo output Tyranny of Souls. This is due to his involvement in heavy metal flagship Iron Maiden and numerous other activities such as brewing beer, flying planes and getting married. The Mandrake Project continues the gloomy heavy metal style of the three immediate predecessors and mostly recalls Bruce Dickinson's greatest solo effort The Chemical Wedding that is already two and a half decades old at this point. The final result qualifies as very good heavy metal album but calling it excellent or perfect would go a little bit too far. I would put it on the same level of quality as immediate predecessor Tyranny of Souls.

    This album starts on a particularly high note with ''Afterglow of Ragnarok''. This song starts with gothic soundscapes based upon low bass guitar sounds and heavy drums before an absolutely energizing guitar riff kicks in. Additional keyboard soon offers a cinematic dimension to this conceptual opener. Bruce Dickinson's vocals in the verses are low, they get a little bit higher in the pre-chorus and the chorus itself is incredibly catchy, engaging and motivating. As if all these wonderful elements weren't enough, the opener even surprises with a few atmospheric growls and a mysterious keyboard coda to end the first single on the highest note. Let's not forget that an absolutely amazing music video was created for this song and that it was released as a single with an outstanding cover artwork and a rare bonus track that should particularly intrigue Iron Maiden fans. The production of the song suits its atmosphere perfectly and is the cherry atop the cake. There is no doubt that this opener announces Bruce Dickinson's return on the highest possible note.

    The legendary singer is able to equal the outstanding quality of this opener on a few occasions. Let's take second single ''Rain on the Graves'' for instance. This song opens with gloomy heavy metal riffs supported by a powerful rhythm section and dramatic keyboard sounds. The vocals sound gloomy, low and menacing in the verses. The chorus then surprises with perfectly controlled high-pitched vocals you just won't get out of your head. Even just writing about this catchy, dramatic and epic chorus sends shivers down my spine. This excellent second single was also supported with an atmospheric music video introducing us to the members of this band who have been recording this remarkable album.

    Another song that deserves much attention is ''Eternity Has Failed''. As you might have guessed by reading its title, the song is a revamped version of ''If Eternity Should Fail'' from Iron Maiden's The Book of Souls. In retrospective, heavy metal fans must thank Iron Maiden's band leader Steve Harris for recognizing the quality of this track, modifying a few elements here and there and adapting it as an album and concert opener. Bruce Dickinson's version has taken another nine years to see the light of day and has gone through some significant changes. The use of Latin American tribal folk elements makes this new version particularly atmospheric. The overall pace of the song is slower which fits with the gloomy overall tone of the record and gives this song an epic doom metal vibe. The vocals sound more natural and less strained which fits perfectly in this context. The song's conclusion is short and to the point as it doesn't overstay its welcome and clocks in at roughly a minute and a half less than Iron Maiden's version. Many fans claim to prefer Bruce Dickinson's version over Iron Maiden's version but I would actually call it a draw since both songs stand out for different reasons and deserve to be explored on their own.

    A last song that I would like to describe in greater depth is ''Shadow of the Gods'' which is best described as gloomy heavy metal song with relentless energy and sinister atmosphere. This song stands out in particular because it references Bruce Dickinson's record The Chemical Wedding. Several melodies and even lyrics recall the title track from that album to be precise. If you are a fan of said record like I am, this creative return to the record should certainly put a bright smile upon your face. This new song deserves to be revisited time and again to discover further references. Strictly instrumentally and vocally speaking, this track isn't as strong as the three aforementioned tunes but its fitting nostalgia and clever references make it stand out in the singer's discography.

    There are a few reasons why Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project isn't material for record of the year, of the month or even of the week. First and foremost, similar heavy metal groups such as Grand Courage and Judas Priest have recently been putting out even more consistent material. Believe me when I say that this year is already an excellent one for traditional heavy metal fans.

    Furthermore, this record includes a few fillers such as bland futuristic rocker ''Mistress of Mercy'' that drags on for too long, tame ballad ''Face in the Mirror'' that can't compete with several tunes of yore and overall disappointing closer ''Sonata (Immortal Beloved)'' that is certainly ambitious but must overall be considered a failed experiment due to its excessive length as it never quite gets to the point.

    Despite such noteworthy flaws, it's simply a blessing to hear Bruce Dickinson's first new material in nineteen long years on The Mandrake Project. If you appreciate atmospheric, conceptual and intellectual heavy metal, you are certainly going to be adoring this record.

    Final Rating: 83%

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  • Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project (2024)

    Bruce Dickinson's seventh studio record The Mandrake Project has been in the works for two decades and comes a whopping nineteen years after his last solo output Tyranny of Souls. This is due to his involvement in heavy metal flagship Iron Maiden and numerous other activities such as brewing beer, flying planes and getting married. The Mandrake Project continues the gloomy heavy metal style of the three immediate predecessors and mostly recalls Bruce Dickinson's greatest solo effort The Chemical Wedding that is already two and a half decades old at this point. The final result qualifies as very good heavy metal album but calling it excellent or perfect would go a little bit too far. I would put it on the same level of quality as immediate predecessor Tyranny of Souls.

    This album starts on a particularly high note with ''Afterglow of Ragnarok''. This song starts with gothic soundscapes based upon low bass guitar sounds and heavy drums before an absolutely energizing guitar riff kicks in. Additional keyboard soon offers a cinematic dimension to this conceptual opener. Bruce Dickinson's vocals in the verses are low, they get a little bit higher in the pre-chorus and the chorus itself is incredibly catchy, engaging and motivating. As if all these wonderful elements weren't enough, the opener even surprises with a few atmospheric growls and a mysterious keyboard coda to end the first single on the highest note. Let's not forget that an absolutely amazing music video was created for this song and that it was released as a single with an outstanding cover artwork and a rare bonus track that should particularly intrigue Iron Maiden fans. The production of the song suits its atmosphere perfectly and is the cherry atop the cake. There is no doubt that this opener announces Bruce Dickinson's return on the highest possible note.

    The legendary singer is able to equal the outstanding quality of this opener on a few occasions. Let's take second single ''Rain on the Graves'' for instance. This song opens with gloomy heavy metal riffs supported by a powerful rhythm section and dramatic keyboard sounds. The vocals sound gloomy, low and menacing in the verses. The chorus then surprises with perfectly controlled high-pitched vocals you just won't get out of your head. Even just writing about this catchy, dramatic and epic chorus sends shivers down my spine. This excellent second single was also supported with an atmospheric music video introducing us to the members of this band who have been recording this remarkable album.

    Another song that deserves much attention is ''Eternity Has Failed''. As you might have guessed by reading its title, the song is a revamped version of ''If Eternity Should Fail'' from Iron Maiden's The Book of Souls. In retrospective, heavy metal fans must thank Iron Maiden's band leader Steve Harris for recognizing the quality of this track, modifying a few elements here and there and adapting it as an album and concert opener. Bruce Dickinson's version has taken another nine years to see the light of day and has gone through some significant changes. The use of Latin American tribal folk elements makes this new version particularly atmospheric. The overall pace of the song is slower which fits with the gloomy overall tone of the record and gives this song an epic doom metal vibe. The vocals sound more natural and less strained which fits perfectly in this context. The song's conclusion is short and to the point as it doesn't overstay its welcome and clocks in at roughly a minute and a half less than Iron Maiden's version. Many fans claim to prefer Bruce Dickinson's version over Iron Maiden's version but I would actually call it a draw since both songs stand out for different reasons and deserve to be explored on their own.

    A last song that I would like to describe in greater depth is ''Shadow of the Gods'' which is best described as gloomy heavy metal song with relentless energy and sinister atmosphere. This song stands out in particular because it references Bruce Dickinson's record The Chemical Wedding. Several melodies and even lyrics recall the title track from that album to be precise. If you are a fan of said record like I am, this creative return to the record should certainly put a bright smile upon your face. This new song deserves to be revisited time and again to discover further references. Strictly instrumentally and vocally speaking, this track isn't as strong as the three aforementioned tunes but its fitting nostalgia and clever references make it stand out in the singer's discography.

    There are a few reasons why Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project isn't material for record of the year, of the month or even of the week. First and foremost, similar heavy metal groups such as Grand Courage and Judas Priest have recently been putting out even more consistent material. Believe me when I say that this year is already an excellent one for traditional heavy metal fans.

    Furthermore, this record includes a few fillers such as bland futuristic rocker ''Mistress of Mercy'' that drags on for too long, tame ballad ''Face in the Mirror'' that can't compete with several tunes of yore and overall disappointing closer ''Sonata (Immortal Beloved)'' that is certainly ambitious but must overall be considered a failed experiment due to its excessive length as it never quite gets to the point.

    Despite such noteworthy flaws, it's simply a blessing to hear Bruce Dickinson's first new material in nineteen long years on The Mandrake Project. If you appreciate atmospheric, conceptual and intellectual heavy metal, you are certainly going to be adoring this record.

    Final Rating: 83%

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  • Dear readers,

    Today, I simply feel like celebrating one of the most unique actors, directors and scriptwriters in the world: Tommy Wiseau. In order to celebrate his unique career, I want to share a funny recent commercial with him. As a bonus, I would like to present you a mash-up of Tommy Wiseau's breakthrough movie The Room and the legendary Star Wars franchise. Have fun with these videos and don't forget to put a beautiful smile upon your face.

    1Password Commercial:

    The Room Meets Star Wars:

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