Media response to the album was generally positive: critics praised the variety of musical styles present on the soundtrack, as well as Neil's vocal performances and lyrical contributions.

[2] Speaking about the writing process, Neil explained that "On meeting Jamie, we realised early on that we'd both had to deal with grief at a relatively young age and so it was interesting to talk about how we'd both dealt with it and the effect it had on us.

writer Paul Travers, "[Biffy Clyro] weren't just given a movie treatment and asked to write music to fit.

[5] According to AllMusic's Matt Collar, Balance, Not Symmetry features "many of the stylistic hallmarks that have made the band one of the more interesting and unpredictable alt-rock acts of their generation, including mutative prog rock songcraft, infectious choruses, and hard-hitting riffs juxtaposed with thoughtfully emotive pop lyricism".

[6] Gigwise writer Dillon Eastoe noted that the album's lyrics focus primarily on "the thin lines between life and death, and finding solace and survival amidst the grief of losing someone", which he explained were "themes the film will confront".