In fiction, while I feel these needn’t be mutually exclusive, I believe immersion is more important than realism. The audience must first and foremost feel immersed in the story. If it’s a story that depends on a realistic tone or basis, then yes–research, corroboration, and detail should be included to make sure it is sufficiently realistic, because that adds to the immersion.

However, if the story doesn’t require that realistic tone or basis, then too much realism detracts from immersion. I don’t want to read a technical briefing with painstaking detail on every event, with no change in rhythm or inspirational language. I want to be sent to another world, where the words are so well connected that I’m barely reading, where I’m imagining a fully immersive scene that beats any VR headset or IMAX production.

That, in my opinion, is the justification for artistic liberties that are taken with fiction.

Explore the Worlds Behind the Stories

Kent Wayne’s ideas about storytelling, power, and human nature appear throughout his fiction.

If you’re curious how those ideas appear inside the stories, start with the Echo Saga.

Read Chapter One

Explore the Books

On moments that were never meant to be noticed… but never forgotten.

We take photos for a lot of reasons.

To remember. To hold onto something before it slips away. To capture a moment we don’t want to lose.

People take photos of everything—the big moments, the small ones, the ones that feel important, and the ones that don’t seem like much at all.

And sometimes, we hand that responsibility over. We hire a professional and entrust them with the burden of capturing the most important moments of all.

But not every photo stays with us. Some get a quick glance, maybe a smile, and then they fade—lost in a feed, buried in a folder, forgotten over time. And then there are the others. The ones that hit a little different. You don’t just see them—you feel them. They pull you back without warning, not just to what happened, but to how it felt to be there. For a moment, you’re right back in it.

And whether you realize it or not, those are the ones that quietly remind you of the why.

Back in college, one of the jobs I had was as a photographer—but not the photographer. I wasn’t the one directing people, lining them up, or telling them where to stand. That was my boss, the main photographer. He handled the big moments, the planned shots, the polished ones—the kind that made it into the fancy, bedazzled albums, the ones that got framed and hung in prominent places.

Me? I worked the edges.

I took the candid shots—the behind-the-scenes moments. Unposed. Unplanned. Completely real. While everyone was focused on the “important” moments, I was capturing everything in between: a laugh that slipped out too early, a quiet glance no one noticed, a conversation happening just off to the side.

My photos didn’t make it to the front of the album. Most of them ended up tucked away, placed into cheap sleeves, forgotten over time. But those photos carried something different. They carried stories. Stories of unplanned moments, of unexpected interactions—the kind that don’t ask for attention but hold onto it once you see them. The kind that flood you with memories every time you come back to them. The kind that unapologetically remind you of the why.

Today, it’s different. Now, everyone has a camera in their hands. Everyone is documenting life as it’s happening—the meal about to be devoured, a kid on the verge of doing something incredibly stupid or incredible, a sunset just beyond the trees, light filtering through a beer bottle.

Everyone’s a photographer, and honestly, it’s a beautiful thing.

But not everyone sees the same way.

Back then, it was just me, hired to hang out and document your moments from a different point of view. Sometimes that meant standing nearby, listening in on conversations—about life, about your story, about the “why” behind who you are, or about nothing at all. Never really part of it, but somehow a necessary presence.

There was no pressure. No performance. No forced smiles. Just presence. Just people being themselves. There were laughs. There was silence. Arguments. Disagreements. Whatever happened, it was real.

And while all of that unfolded, I was there with my camera, quietly capturing it all—the glances, the gestures, the in-between moments, the unguarded pieces of humanity. It felt awkward at first. Really awkward. But then something shifted. The walls came down. And then people appeared.

And what was left wasn’t just a collection of photos—it was something honest. A story. Your story, lived, not staged, told frame by frame. A story to share, or one to keep close just for yourself. Or maybe just small pieces of it, released into the world. No fanfare. No celebration. Just smiles, memories, and stories told later, recalled fondly over drinks.

I still hold on to the idea that the best photographs aren’t the ones that are carefully planned, heavily filtered, perfectly processed, and beautifully framed. Don’t get me wrong—when done right, those can be some of the most visually stunning images you’ll ever see. But the ones that stay with you, the ones that matter, are something else entirely.

They’re the unfiltered ones. The unplanned ones. The ones that live in the background, quietly holding everything together. Those tell a story, sometimes about an isolated moment in time, sometimes a small piece of a larger journey.

Somewhere along the way, I realized those were the moments I was drawn to most. Not the perfect ones, but the honest ones. Not the ones we perform for, but the ones we live in.

Like a writer tells stories, a photographer captures moments that will be relived countless times.

Maybe that’s what this is now—a return to that space. A conversation. A moment. A story unfolding without direction. Just people, as they are.

And maybe… that’s the most beautiful part of all.

There’s more waiting at https://xinkblotz.com. Telling stories, sharing thoughts, and drinking coffee. A blend of fiction, reflection, and whatever’s brewing – one post at a time.

Dangerzone works like this: You give it a document that you don’t know if you can trust (for example, an email attachment). Inside a sandbox, Dangerzone converts the document to a PDF (if it isn’t already one), and then converts the PDF into raw pixel data: a huge list of RGB colour values for each page. Then, Dangerzone takes this pixel data and converts it back into a PDF.

It has been independently audited and apart from the obvious use by journalists and similar professions, even every day users can be most often targeted by attachments that carry payloads of malware. This is exactly how bad actors bypass firewalls, and secure messengers like Signal.

I would not necessarily put every document I receive through this process as it does at least double or triple the size of the file (converts every page to an image). But from anyone you don’t know, this is a useful tool to have ready to use. Everything is processed locally on your machine, and it will install on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

See dangerzone.rocks/category/unca…
#Blog, #opensource, #security, #technology

Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX GEn (Album Review)

Bring Me The Horizon just released highly anticipated album, POST HUMAN:NeX GEn! Initially announced as a September 2023 release, the album finally dropped last night (24/05/2024). In the meantime, the band has won a Brit Award, embarked on an arena tour, and parted ways with Jordan Fish. Members Oli Sykes (Vocals), Lee Malia (Guitar), Matt Kean (Bass), and Matt Nicholls (Drums) deliver something unique. A fusion of genres, with hints of post-hardcore, collaborations with Glassjaw and Underoath, and even elements of pop, drum and bass, and rap. It’s a wild ride that you don’t want to miss!

Opening track “[ost]dreamseeker” serves as a brief and straightforward album introduction. It’s necessity is certainly questionable.

The journey truly begins with “YOUtopia”, fans of Bring Me The Horizon will instantly resonate with this. Leaning towards the pop side, this track still carries a riff that hooks you in. It’s not the band’s first venture into this style, it would seamlessly blend into their album, “amo”.

“Kool-Aid” is a fantastic song! I’ve already done an indepth review of this song check it out here!

“Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd”, is quite the sing-along. The chorus, “No one’s gonna come and rescue me, I’m drowning in my sleep,” is catchy as hell. This song showcases the song writing growth and I enjoy the layering of screams and singing. The drums in the breakdown are another standout point in this track.

youtube.com/watch?v=_nrpxowbIY…

“liMOusine ft Aurora” is a departure from their usual sound. It’s slow and reminiscent of a Deftones song. Surprisingly, I find myself enjoying it despite despising Deftones. I think it’s because Bring Me The Horizon brings something interesting to the table, unlike Deftones who bore me to death. The song has a noughties vibe, and the collaboration between the two vocalists is impressive. Adding a nu-metal flavour that really stands out on the album. In fact, this might just be my favourite track!

youtube.com/watch?v=e8U96n8L-l…

“DArkSide” is a typical radio song its got a sticky chorus . Also its riffs are killer too. However, unlike some other songs on the album, this one won’t be on repeat in your mind all day.

Next song “a bulleT w/ my namE On ft Underoath”, shares similarities with the previous song. What sets it apart is its heavier sound and the provocative lyrics “If Jesus Christ returns we’ll just kill that f*cker twice.” It has a weird outro that somewhat taints the song.

I get the idea of interludes in albums but “[ost] (spi)ritual” has me thinking what on earth is this? Have I turned on a rap album by mistake? Honestly I don’t get it. Pair that with the later interlude of “[ost] p.u.s.s.-e” , neither are needed and I find they ruin the flow of the album.

Diving into the lyrics of “n/A” and you’ll find yourself in what seems an indie song based on one of Oli’s addiction support group sessions. Personally, I can’t stand this track – I don’t mind a well-placed swear word for emphasis, but this entire track just feels unnecessarily crude.

I think “LosT” would have been a better fit if released by Sum41. In my opinion, the band lacks the punk edge needed to really nail this song. It’s fun and not terrible, but it definitely needs a bit more attitude!

“sTraNgeRs” is incredible! The vocals are crystal clear and it showcases the band’s talents perfectly. It would have fit in well on album “That’s the Spirit”, it brings a much-needed ballad with a memorable chorus. The harsh vocals at the end give it that classic Bring Me The Horizon edge as well as featuring some of the best lyrics on the album.

“Well, I guess my guardian angel missed the memo
‘Cause we’re walking on razors again
And we swore to God we’d never let this happen, no
We’ve dragged ourselves through hell and we’ll be damned if we go back”

youtube.com/watch?v=FsNGxsrcZa…

On “R.i.p (duskCOre RemIx)” seems to have gone overboard with the processing and sampling. While it’s entertaining, it doesn’t really bring anything new to the album. Honestly, it’s a track I’ll skip from now on.

If you’re looking for a heavy song then here it is. “AmEN!” By teaming up with Lil Uzi Vert and Daryl Palumbo really add some meat to the bones of the song. Lyrics such as “Tell your friends this is the end of everything” is an earworm. Personally I think Palumbo’s feature was the only one that was needed.

youtube.com/watch?v=2TjcPpases…

The hunt for filler song ends with “DiE4u.” This pop-infused track is sprinkled with screams but it doesn’t stand out in any way. Sure its relatively catchy but falls right in the middle of the road. However, if you’re a fan of sing-alongs its probably enough to win you over.

The final track, “DIg It”, begins with an eerie alexa-like voice that transitions into soft vocals and synthetic bass. Suddenly out of nowhere you’re taken back to the raw energy of Count Your Blessings with some of the most intense harsh vocals on the entire album. Unfortunately, this nostalgic moment is short-lived as the song mellows out to silence equally abruptly. After a two-minute pause, the alexa-esque voice brings the album to a close.

I must applaud the band for their bold attempt to deviate from the typical metalcore album formula. They haven’t just taken a risk, they’ve taken a whole bucket load! Although not all of them have paid off, there are definitely some remarkable moments. This is by far the best Oli has sounded on any Bring Me The Horizon album, and it’s only fair to acknowledge that. This album requires multiple playthroughs, as there are new discoveries with each subsequent listen. Personally, I feel that the production on the album is excessive and could have been toned down massively. While it may not reach the heights of albums like Sempiternal, it still has its fair share of standout moments. Perhaps in the future, they could consider reducing the number of interludes, and honestly, this 16-song album could have easily been condensed to 12 songs. Also in future please for god sake name your songs with the right capitalisation!

7/10

Best songs

Kool-Aid , Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd , liMOusine, A bulleT w/ my namE On, sTraNgeRs, AmEN!

Songs To Avoid

[ost] (spi)ritual, [ost] p.u.s.s.-e, n/A

Got something to say ? Leave it as a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in this review belong to their respective owners and I or this website does not claim any right over them.

Review written by Fox Reviews Rock

As always the song(s) in my reviews are added to my Spotify Playlist find out more about that here as well as on my Spotify Podcast find out more about that here .

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Alessa Moore’s latest single, “Maya,” showcases a fusion of garage rock and post-punk with raw, emotional lyrics reflecting accelerationist nihilism. The track balances vulnerability and edge, solidifying Maya’s distinctive place in the alternative music scene. Fans can catch their live performance at Circuit, Kingston Upon Thames, on 24 April 2026.

by Fox Reviews Rock31st Mar 202631st Mar 2026

New Rock Roundup Vol 43

The New Rock Roundup is a weekly feature ranking recent rock music releases across various genres. Each entry includes personal insights from the author, Fox, regarding why they enjoy the songs. The post highlights tracks from Florence Black, Seether, Lo Rays, Good Riddance, Cartel, Switchfoot, and Vegaslice, concluding with Fox’s personal ranking.

by Fox Reviews Rock30th Mar 202630th Mar 2026

#Album #AlbumReview #Blog #Blogging #BringMeTheHorizon #HardRock #Metal #Music #MusicReview #POSTHUMANNeXGEn #Review #rock #Writing

Fox Reviews Rock

2024-03-27 16:00:00

Bring Me The Horizon ‘Kool-Aid’ – A Groundbreaking Return to Metalcore

Fresh off an electrifying performance at Download 2023 which showcased the band’s evolution as well as the festival’s willingness to gamble on the next generation. Bring Me The Horizon has returned with their latest track “Kool-Aid” which will feature on their now-delayed album “Post Human: Nex Gen”.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/foxreviewsrock/episodes/Fox-Reviews-Rock-Ep8–Bring-Me-The-Horizon—Kool-Aid-e2hkfto

This is the first single released by the band since Jordan Fish (Keyboard/Backing Vocals) departed the band. Perhaps the Church of Genxesis adverts at Download 2023 should have inquired “Anyone know where I can get any good Jordan Fish and Chips”, yeah maybe you needed to be there for that one. Fish’s arrival in the first place marked a change in their sound so maybe we can expect another one now?

If you want to go and see live music click the Ticketmaster logo below to buy your tickets!

In the past there have been moments where you would be forgiven for thinking Bring Me The Horizon was an Oli Sykes (Vocals) solo project. However, I am thrilled that Kool-Aid has taken a monumental step back from that. It truly showcases the band’s incredible talent for their respective instruments.

youtube.com/watch?v=Jq4NhAnnD0…

As the song kicks off Mat Nicholls (Drums) sets the stage with an eerie build-up, before a clap that brings Sykes into the action. Lee Malia (Guitar) and Matt Kean (Bass) not only hold their own throughout the track but there are moments when they shine, especially in the breakdown! But let us not forget about Sykes, his vocals, whilst clearly altered post-production in parts, are undeniably impressive with his screams harkening back to the intensity of their 2nd album “Suicide Season”.

The song delves into the depths of society’s blind conformity, using the drinking Kool-Aid metaphor. Highlighting the disturbing reality of those in power being able to manipulate and exploit the masses without consequence. I feel this is highlighted in lyrics such as “Asphyxiating with a smile on your face while they pull your teeth out one by one”. In contrast, it is hard to ignore the cringe-worthy lyrics of “Kool-Aid by the jug/give me a hug”. Seriously who on earth came up with that monstrosity? Let us also file the final ten seconds into the same category!

After what feels like an eternity this, multiple-personality, band has returned to the metalcore scene, where I feel they truly thrive and create phenomenal songs. Hopefully, their phase of experimenting with pop-like tunes is behind them. This song is for fans of bands such as While She Sleeps and Asking Alexandria and rather
surprisingly for me at least fans of early Bring Me The Horizon!
7.5/10

Got something to say ? Leave it as a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in this review belong to their respective owners and I or this website does not claim any right over them.

Review written by Fox Reviews Rock

Review edited by Cozzer

As always the song(s) in my reviews are added to my Spotify Playlist find out more about that here as well as on my Spotify Podcast find out more about that here .

Review: Three Days Grace’s New Era at Manchester Concert

The review reflects on an unforgettable concert experience at the O2 Apollo in Manchester, featuring Three Days Grace and Badflower. Despite initial challenges, the night was marked by powerful performances and emotional connections between the two bands. The reviewer praises the dual-vocal approach of Three Days Grace, highlighting their new album as a celebration of…

by Fox Reviews Rock31st Mar 202631st Mar 2026

Song Of The Week – Maya – Alessa Moore

Alessa Moore’s latest single, “Maya,” showcases a fusion of garage rock and post-punk with raw, emotional lyrics reflecting accelerationist nihilism. The track balances vulnerability and edge, solidifying Maya’s distinctive place in the alternative music scene. Fans can catch their live performance at Circuit, Kingston Upon Thames, on 24 April 2026.

by Fox Reviews Rock31st Mar 202631st Mar 2026

New Rock Roundup Vol 43

The New Rock Roundup is a weekly feature ranking recent rock music releases across various genres. Each entry includes personal insights from the author, Fox, regarding why they enjoy the songs. The post highlights tracks from Florence Black, Seether, Lo Rays, Good Riddance, Cartel, Switchfoot, and Vegaslice, concluding with Fox’s personal ranking.

by Fox Reviews Rock30th Mar 202630th Mar 2026

#Blogging #BringMeTheHorizon #HardRock #Metal #Music #MusicReview #Review #rock #Writing

Fox Reviews Rock

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