On “Tally-Ho,” the first song off their new album, Hawk Nelson turn up the heaviness and go all Green Day on us. It’s a classic, shout-along punk rock song in the tradition of The Clash, and it is both unexpected and commendable coming from this pop-punk group.

But by the time the next song, “Mystery,” rolls around, what came before seems like a wistful daydream. Suddenly, Hawk Nelson are embracing the brand of emo-dance (think Jonezetta), which peaked three years ago.

The whole album is this way, with Hawk Nelson trying on and then discarding genres with schizophrenic abandon. “LAX” is all hardcore punk, “Done Holding On” is sappy Simple Plan, and “We’re Alright” is like a hybrid All American Rejects and Blink-182.

As a result, it’s hard to believe that the group really mean it. Instead, it comes across as if they are simply doing their best to approximate a truckload of genres while singing about Jesus. This doesn’t make Crazy Love terrible, it just means that Hawk Nelson have some growing up to do before they can make something of substance.

Two and a half stars out of five.

– Rhett Snell
www.drone.co.nz