[9] Lead vocalist Caro Tanghe said that her lyrics for Rheia were the most direct that she had written, which was inspired by her boyfriend and bandmate Gilles Demolder encouraging her to open up more.

[7][8] The album's cover art depicts Tanghe and Demolder's hands joined together with burning candle wax as it reacts to cold water.

's Natalie Zina Walschots thought that the band has released "a vast and complex record that doesn't just react toward but actively embraces the aesthetics of doom and sludge.

"[2] PopMatters critic Chris Conaton described the record as "wonderful in terms of contrasting black metal fury with quieter moments," but thought that the songwriting lags behind the atmosphere.

"[12] Sputnikmusic staff critic Tristan Jones described the album as "a swan song," writing that the record "demonstrates the band's evident progress instrumentally and vocally and [Jack] Shirley's influence takes them to new heights, and chasmic lows.