ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ fɔːɹ pˈɪtʃfɔːɹk, dʒˈæmɪn wˈɔːɹən stˈeɪɾᵻd: "ʌnfˈɔːɹtʃənətli, fˈaɪɚɹ ɪnðə hˈoʊl fˈeɪlz tʊ ɪnvˈoʊk ˌɛni ɪfˈɛktɪv nəstˈældʒə æz ɪt flɛɡmˈæɾɪkli wˈɔndɚz θɹuː twˈɛlv sˈɑːlɪd bˌʌt ˌʌnɛksˈaɪɾɪŋ tɹˈæks".
Writing for Pitchfork, Jamin Warren stated: "unfortunately, Fire in the Hole fails to invoke any effective nostalgia as it phlegmatically wanders through 12 solid but unexciting tracks".