[5] He stated that he became a "news junkie" and wrote much of the album's material "trying to reconcile" his own "concerns and anxieties" regarding humanity when Doomsday Clock moved two minutes to midnight in 2018.

[6][7] The themes encompass apocalyptic imagery in "cultural" and "moral wastelands" within a backdrop of personal connection and intimacy;[8] influenced by the seeking of "hope" and "warmth" amidst major global events such as climate change, the European migrant crisis, the rise of neo-nationalism and Brexit.

I’ve always held that there’s always that holding onto a sort of optimism [...] finding some silver lining, something to hang onto, and something that provides you with some amount of hope and gives you some sense of faith in people and faith in the kindness that people are capable of...That’s what a lot of the songs on the record were trying to reach for.The album's lyrical and musical conception was influenced by featuring artist Mavis Staples as well as the literature of T.S Eliot, W. B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney.

[11] The exclamation mark in the title of the album is “quite important,” and signifies “ the wry smile” in his lyricism, blending "experiences of devastation and joy".

[12] The record features a guest appearances from blues singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples on "Nina Cried Power" and instrumentalist Booker T. Jones on "Be" and "Sunlight".

[16] The album features gospel choral backing,[17] pulpit-rattling percussion[17] gentle vocals,[18] and varied instrumentation[18] with bluesy organs and guitar[17] containing a mix of pop-culture references[19] and personal sentiment.

"Nina Cried Power" opens the album with a bluesy, soulful track featuring a strong drumbeat and vocals by Mavis Staples.

[16][18] It sees Hozier lyrically reference artists he found inspirational during the song-writing process - among those mentioned are Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Woody Guthrie and Duke Ellington.

[19]Many tracks on the album, like the aforementioned "Nina Cried Power" as well as "Movement" and "To Noise Making (Sing)", feature a gospel choir.

concludes the album with love ballad featuring subtle acoustics and soft utterances, depicting a tender romance against the backdrop of the apocalypse.

[31] Positive reviews include AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who called the album "a subtle but notable shift that lends emotional gravity to a singer/songwriter who already favored weighty topics.

"[35] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph gave the album a perfect score, claiming Hozier to be "a talent to rival Jeff Buckley".

"[38] Elisabeth Woronzoff of PopMatters stated that Hozier needed the album "to recapture the energy created by his previous releases then further light the artist's skill and vision of his craft."

"[40] Mixed reviews include The Arts Desk's Russ Coffey, who said that the album's "finer moments – and there are many – come where he balances his natural despondency with some positivity.

"[41] Negative reviews include The Independent's Mark Beaumont, claiming "Hozier has some pertinent points to make on an album that improves dramatically in the second half.