Album artwork was photographed by Scott Council, who went on to a successful career in entertainment photography.

The booklet from original release was printed as a blue and black duotone on white paper with hidden elements in a high gloss varnish, while the reissue was printed in full color and had slightly different artwork.

Four of its tracks were re-recorded for the band's major label release In Moderation on Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records.

A review in the Los Angeles Times gave Birth of a Cynic a grade of "B-", comparing the band to Soundgarden (except younger and with less money).

The review called out the "growling vocals of Evan Sula-Goff, who somehow manages to prevent those veins in his neck from blowing up".