Sounds wrote "With 'Rust Red September', Eyeless in Gaza have stumbled over a devastatingly simple truth, but haven't yet learnt how to harness it for their best purposes. Still, it makes (occasionally) great listening until they come up with their real masterpiece."[2]
Smash Hits editor Neil Tennant gave the album a 7 out of 10 rating and described its content as "Rich, sensual songs with poetic words by a duo from Nuneaton. They produce a big sound on a small scale with a low budget, and too often the music drags where it should soar, but there’s some unusual and fiery talent on display."[3]
In an AllMusic review Ned Raggett wrote: "Rust Red September finds the group further moving away from the brusquer hooks of its earliest days to a calmer reflectiveness. If anything, the duo also achieved a light, airy pop feeling with this album".[1]
