[8] Prior to the recording sessions, singer Mark Slaughter was recovering from a 1992 nodule surgery on his vocal cords, guitarist Tim Kelly had been charged with drug trafficking, and bassist Dana Strum was rehabilitating from a motorcycle accident that injured his playing hand.

[12] The Sun-Sentinel wrote that "it's pretty much what fans expect, with a few tentative melodies and instrumental breaks thrown in for good measure.

"[11] The Calgary Herald called the album "textbook '80s thud-rock," and gave it an "E" (in homage to Robert Christgau), for "a record often cited as proof that God does not exist.

"[14] The New Straits Times concluded that "the slam-bangers are ordinary and cliche-ridden but the slower songs, despite having borrowed touches, are rather enjoyable.

"[17] AllMusic wrote that Slaughter "never were among the best pop-metal groups, lacking the hooks and charisma to make it to the top, but Fear No Evil shows that they could rock harder than anyone would have expected.