Nevertheless, by 2012 critics' perception of "Generation Terrorists" had remained generally positive. In their retrospective review of the album, The Quietus wrote, ""Generation Terrorists" should be celebrated, because among its messy feast of ideas it remembers to be fun. There's a cleansing and creative glee in its righteous rage and cultural destruction that's rarer in "Gold Against the Soul" and "The Holy Bible"." Allmusic wrote, "Since the Manics deliver these charged lyrics as heavy guitar-rockers, the music doesn't always hit quite as forcefully as intended", stating that the "relatively polished production and big guitar sound occasionally sell the music short, especially the lesser songs", but calling the band's passion "undeniable, even on the weaker cuts [...] Debut albums rarely come as ambitious as the Manic Street Preachers' "Generation Terrorists"."