Sworn to a Great Divide has been treated to largely positive reviews.
AllMusic's Thom Jurek noted that despite upset expectations of a stylistic sequel to
Natural Born Chaos, the album has "absolutely nothing to complain about." Jurek praised vocalist
Björn Strid as well as the album's layered and melodic style. He concluded by calling it "well done, carefully executed, and aggressive enough to satisfy fans, while offering some new textures, spaces, and compositional elements to add depth and dimension to an ever-evolving sound." The album received perhaps a more extreme review from
Stylus which considers Soilwork's style a heavier incarnation of
Nirvana and modern
emo groups. It also speculates the song title "20 More Miles" as a possible "marketing move." Yet, in the same hand, the review considers Soilwork to "sound slightly 'more metal' than before."
Sworn to a Great Divide is also praised for its catchy
hooks, guitar harmonies, and Strid's outstanding singing abilities. It ends by stating, "That this falls under metal, as does
Slayer and
Sunn O))), is a credit to the music's breadth and resiliency." ==Track listing==