Wolves currently holds a 76/100 on the
review aggregator website
Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". while Nik Young of
Metal Hammer commented "Rise Against certainly know how to sweep you along for the ride". Both
Alternative Press and
Rock Sound wrote that the album provides a sense of rebellion and hope.
Alternative Press in particular wrote: "Of course, this album won't beat Trump's administration alone, but it's part of a vital movement that's prepared to stand up and fight against it." In contrast,
Paste critic Scott Heisel said "For being one of the first big punk albums in post-Trump America,
Wolves doesn't howl nearly enough and rarely shows its fangs". Sputnikmusic expanded upon this notion by writing: "What's missing here, what's been missing for years, is just a '
Swing Life Away'. Something fragile and self-indulgent and real. We never ever doubted that you know how to be political, Rise Against. We just doubted that you still know how to be real." Nearly every critic noted how the music of
Wolves sounded very similar to Rise Against's previous material. Some critics wrote positively of the music, like Bowar, who praised the band for maintaining their core sound without being stagnant, and James Christopher Monger of
AllMusic, who said the album's music would please longtime fans who wanted "something new to pump their fists to". Most critics however were dissatisfied with the musical similarities.
Rock Sound wrote "familiarity does dull the edges of their less immediate efforts", while Heisel commented "
Wolves, for or better or worse, feels like it could've been recorded a decade ago, or maybe three years from now". A reviewer for Sputnikmusic was especially disappointed by the musical similarities, writing: "The thing is, though, if you'll permit me to borrow the buzzword-iest of Shakespeare lines;
Wolves is a whole bunch of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The reviewer went on to discuss how the music was stubbornly tepid, and that every chorus felt lukewarm and flaccid. Some reviewers described the lyrics as "earnest", with Young commenting "[Rise Against's] passion is unwavering, their lyrics earnest and their energy inspiring". Josh Gray of
Clash commented on the unique juxtaposition of lyrical themes, such as pacifism in "The Violence" and aggression in "Wolves". Heisel and Spunikmusic were critical of the vague lyrics on
Wolves. The Sputnikmusic reviewer jokingly likened the lyrics to "an entitled soccer mum at a game where her beloved son has lost".
Kerrang! however commended this aspect, noting how the lyrics allow the listener to reach their own conclusions instead of merely preaching the band members beliefs. Bowar complimented the production value of Raskulinecz, noting how he gave the music "plenty of punch and clarity without making things too slick". Alex McLevy of
The A.V. Club however criticized Raskulinecz by writing "
Wolves is somehow even more polished, almost glossy to a fault with its compression and ladled-on sweetening of the distortion. At times, it veers dangerously close to latter-day
Metallica". == Commercial performance ==