The Dark talks of somber themes, such as assassination, death, struggle, rituals, and the supernatural: the lyrics from "Line of Death", for example, were based on Libyan hostilities in the Gulf of Sidra, while the band's title track involves the protagonist attempting to survive the night in an abandoned house with an evil, demonic entity stalking and attempting to drag him to hell.

In order to promote The Dark, Metal Church supported Metallica and Anthrax on the Damage, Inc. Tour.

wrote that the passage to a major label inevitably compromised Metal Church's sound for "mass commercial acceptability", with the result that The Dark was not "as solidly hefty" as their "monstrously brilliant debut".

However, the album was judged "impressive", revealing of a new side of the band in the heavy metal ballad "Watch the Children Pray" and riding "a delicate balance of semi-Speed and lightweight material".

[6] Rock Hard reviewer suspected that Metal Church had reached the peak of their creativity on their debut album and considered The Dark a little inferior, criticizing vocalist David Wayne's performance to the point of wishing that a personnel change would happen.