What makes Open Your Eyes just a little bit strange is how jarringly obvious the stylistic shift is. Rapture Ruckus has gone from brash rap-rock to the kind of modern dance/hip-hop hybrid that is all over the radio. What this means is that instead of youth group-inspiring statements delivered over something that sounds like Kid Rock, this album contains youth-group inspiring statements delivered over something that sounds like Dane Rumble and the Black Eyed Peas.

It’s all towering synths, dance beats and copious amounts of auto tune. And some of it is quite good.

The single “All Things New” has a chorus that features such a giant hook that you can’t help but give Rapture Ruckus frontman Brad Dring credit. If this gig ever falls through, a career writing songs for famous pop stars beckons.

Of course, with an album like this, subtlety isn’t really a feature. Because of that, the lyrics can be painfully cheesy at times, and musically there isn’t much to savour after the initial sugary hit. But that doesn’t take away from Open Your Eyes being a perfectly competent pop album.

Three and a half stars out of five