Upon its release as a single, Tony Beard of
Record Mirror commented, "This is a grand record, all large guitar solos, awesome power chords and a lyric that could set East-West relations back a few eons if ever the powers that be hear it." As guest reviewers for
Number One, Simon Tedd and
Shark of
Big Bam Boo gave the song three stars and described it as "just another Big Country record" but one that's "good for fans". Paul Taylor of the
Manchester Evening News gave a mixed review. He considered it to be "more like the Big Country of old, if only because of the martial drum beat", but felt the song "is barely equal to its subject matter" and concluded that it was "sure to sound better in concert". Caren Myers of
Melody Maker wrote, "This is so ponderously well-meaning it practically grinds to a halt. No tiny gossamer wings could lift this concrete hippopotamus of a single off the ground." In a review of
Peace in Our Time, Peter B. King of
The Pittsburgh Press noted the song's "anthemic chorus" and described it as "catchy as the cold going around this newsroom". Brett Milano of
The Boston Globe considered the song a "chunky rocker" which "recall[s] better days". ==Track listing==