[8] Carla Valois Lobo of MusicOMH described The Art of Survival as "post-grunge done right",[4] while Guitar.com labelled the album's sound as "polished, modern hard rock".

[10] Overall, Sputnik Music stated that the heavy, bass-driven sound of the record brings to mind the post-metal of At the Soundawn and the desert rock of Kyuss.

[14] The more subdued moments of the album included the track "Creatures of the Fire", a ballad recalling the band's 1995 hit "Glycerine".

[4] The album's lead single "More Than Machines" was written reflecting Rossdale's feelings on women's rights following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, planetary destruction and the rise of AI.

Nonetheless, Siobhan opined that the album's heavy sound suited the lyrical sense of doom, praising songs such as "Slow Me", "Human Sand" and "Kiss Me I'm Dead", and stated the record had a "powerful, personal relevance".