Reviews of the album were generally positive, feeling that the album was something of a return to form for the band. Jonathan Bernstein of Rolling Stone stated that the group had abandoned "the self-seriousness that has sometimes bogged down their recent work, and the result is a shockingly fun return-to-form collection of sad-sack storytelling".[12] Evan Rytlewski of Pitchfork wrote that "despite coming from a band that seems to be winding down in many ways, Thrashing Thru The Passion is so alive and elated that, if not for Hold Steady's well-documented track record, it could be mistaken for the work of a band just hitting its peak. It's as joyous and rousing as the band's best efforts, but also looser and utterly unforced."[10] Jesse Hassenger of The A.V. Club said "with an expanded lineup, this new configuration is a looser and less-anthemic iteration of the band, reducing the fist-pumping and giving the songs more room to breathe" and felt that the album "feels liberated from some of the band’s usual album architecture... It’s a productive scaling-down – the sound of a great rock band getting back to work".[5] Adam Feibel of Exclaim! said "Thrashing Thru the Passion might be the most fun and carefree Hold Steady record".[6] James McMahon of NME stated that the return of Nicolay had improved the band, and that "the Hold Steady achieve their best work when their playing is loose... When they sound like the best bar band in the best bar you didn't know about until you found yourself in it at 3am in the morning."[9]
