[4] In an exclusive comment to Audacy, frontman Sully Erna described the song as "very cut and dry", and revealed that it's about waving the white flag in a relationship: It's simply about the exhaustion we can all feel in relationships at times from the redundancy of fighting with each other.

[5]Liz Scarlett of Louder Sound magazine described the lyrics as both "brooding" and "contemplative".

Greg Kennelty of Metal Injection described the song as having "this very specific early 2000s radio vibe to it" but noted that "I don't mean it in a bad way either.

[7] Joe DiVita of Loudwire praised the song as both "catchy" and "punchy" and commended the band for their hit-writing ability 25 years into their career.

[8] Upon its release, "Surrender" entered multiple charts, including the Billboard Mainstream Rock.