We wrote fresh lyrics and have different people singing on the single CD version tracks as compared to those on the double CD.The band released three videos in support of the album, "Overture/Reaching for the Sky" on November 20, 2020,[6] "The World We Used to Know" on December 11, 2020,[7] and "Looking for the Light" on January 15, 2021.

[13] In December 2019/January 2020, Morse wrote a second round of lyrics inspired by his twenties and by The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged and The Virtue of Selfishness by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, which he called "kind of the mother of Libertarianism".

Chris Roberts from Classic Rock said the band takes the listener "on a journey through the tropes of modern, technically flawless AOR-tinted prog, the playing proficient, the soul of it elusive."

"[11] Scott Medina from Sonic Perspectives said the album matches the quality of The Whirlwind and while he admitted those who prefer epic songs could feel "less enthusiastic", he said "there's no denying that this sounds just like what most people imagine when they think 'Transatlantic'.

About the different versions, he commented that Forevermore "has more of Stolt" and "carries a bit more shadow and mystery", while The Breath of Life feels "a little more direct and accessible" and has been injected with "a little more light and love" by Morse.

He also thought the first part is more "positive" and "inspiring" in terms of instrumentation, while the second one is filled with "ballads or, at least, ambient and spiritual tracks backed by strong progressive rock.

He thought that the band had better moments in the past and that they work better when Morse is the vocalist, but still believed Transatlantic delivered "the finest genre fare despite all the compositional routine".

[17] On AllMusic, Thom Jurek said The Absolute Universe (Forevermore version) "showcases Transatlantic's consummate composing, production, and arrangement skills in near-perfect balance with emotional intelligence, and keen psychological and spiritual insight.

"[15] Writing for Prog magazine, Grant Moon said the two versions offer "if not the best of both worlds, certainly the most of them", but questioned if an "objective producer" could have helped them "see the wood for the trees, make choices, and fashion the one great album currently residing inside two very good ones".