It continues the avant-garde and progressive direction they had been exploring on 2004's Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice, and is considered by the band as something of an "appendix" to that album.

The issue of hypostasis and hypostatic union is discussed at length, with the opening track's lyrics asking:"Was there not an inconceivable loss of knowledge at Bethlehem?

[1] The very first line of the record is a quote from The Great Chain of Being by Arthur Lovejoy which reads "Everything, except GOD, has in itself some measure of privation, thus all individuals may be graded according to the degree to which they are infected with mere potentiality".

AllMusic praised the technical skill of the musicians as well as the inclusion of non-traditional musical elements, writing that "Guitars and drums are played with razor-sharp precision throughout, and the indecipherable vocals sound exactly like Beelzebub on a bad day."

Blabbermouth praised the avant-garde and experimental characteristics of the record, concluding that "The combination of a strong sound mix, accomplished musicianship, and pure aural dread makes "Kenose" a particularly engaging experience.