[2] In an interview with Ultimate Metal.com, Jeff said that "The Habit of Fire is a concept album about the living energy in a human being that has become our archetype of survival...

It was praised for its diverse style and instrumentation as well as its quality musicianship, but was considered repetitive and over-indulgent at times, as well as somewhat inaccessible and difficult to digest.

[4] On this release, the band reduced its black metal sound to make room for atmospheric soundscapes and industrial textures.

[5][7] The music is varied, combining the band's metal roots with styles such as progressive rock, electronica, psychedelic ambient, and jazz fusion, giving the album a "breathless, almost ADD" feel.

[6][7] PopMatters described the album as "flipping randomly between radio stations playing Rush, King Crimson, Ulver, and the Mars Volta".