Given an "A" rating in Canada's Windsor Star, the reviewer noted, "This is heavy metal at its painful best. Jim Barnes screams like other hard rockers, but never for shallow effect, he has real emotive strength. Guitarist Ian Moss shifts into overdrive with the grace of an Indy professional and Walker's insightful lyrics give the music weight." Rip It Up said, "Barnes has no peers in the shouting stakes, yet tempers this with delicacy when required. On any assessment, "Circus Animals" is a triumph."