matt collar of allmusic wrote that white lies "sound even more engaged and clear-eyed than on the ambitious, stylized "ritual"," and they "combine the urgent passions of their debut with the conceptual ambitions of their sophomore effort and by doing so, make the best album of their career". cai trefor of "clash" magazine rated the album 7 out of 10, and described it as leaning towards retro, but also sounding firmly in the present, "utilising electronic samples with classic valve-driven guitar chords to accompany the trademark baritone of mcveigh". the line of best fit's reviewer ryan thomas noted the album's 1980s atmosphere but said that "with influences visible, nods clearly marked, white lies aren't just repackaging yesterday's hits as their own. instead they're making use of abandoned utensils to create anew, achieving catharsis through resourcefulness. yes, they are working with a previously-explored aesthetic, but they are molding it into a beautifully-original product, per a vision that refuses to forget music's former greatness".