Until Your Heart Stops cover

Until Your Heart Stops

Cave In · 1999

54 min · 10 tracks · alternative rock

A chaotic blend of heavy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes that challenge the boundaries of post-hardcore and progressive rock.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Juggernaut — This track showcases the album's ferocity, blending aggressive riffs with melodic undertones, encapsulating the band's transition into more dynamic songwriting.
  • →
    The End of Our Rope Is a Noose — With its haunting atmosphere and intricate guitar work, this track exemplifies the emotional weight carried throughout the album, highlighting both vulnerability and intensity.
  • →
    Controlled Mayhem Then Erupts — Spanning almost 14 minutes, this epic closer captures the essence of Cave In's sound journey, moving through various tempos and styles, culminating in a powerful climax.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album's chaotic structure and genre-blending sound mark it as a significant entry in post-hardcore.

What we noticed

  • The album features abrupt tempo shifts, with tracks like 'Juggernaut' transitioning from heavy riffs to atmospheric interludes.
  • The final track, 'Controlled Mayhem Then Erupts', builds tension over its runtime before culminating in an explosive climax.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • cathartic release through heaviness
  • exploratory tracks with dynamic shifts
  • intense moments of atmospheric tension
  • late-night deep listening experience
  • immersive soundscapes for reflection

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer instant gratification tracks
  • seek consistent short songs

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in January 1999, Until Your Heart Stops was Cave In's second full-length album, following their 1998 debut, Until Your Heart Stops. This album marked a significant evolution in their sound, showcasing their shift from a more straightforward metalcore style to complex arrangements that incorporated elements of space rock and progressive influences.
Stylistic neighbors
Isis· Pelican· Mastodon

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • The End of Our Rope Is a Noose

    The verses build tension through vivid imagery depicting despair and hopelessness before breaking into a cathartic chorus filled with raw emotion.

    This structural choice amplifies the contrast between the verses' dark narrative and the release found in the chorus, making it a pivotal moment on the album.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Moral Eclipse 2:05
  • 2 Terminal Deity 3:13
  • 3 Juggernaut 5:35
  • 4 The End of Our Rope Is a Noose 8:09
  • 5 Segue 1 1:17
  • 6 Until Your Heart Stops / Segue 2 8:08
  • 7 Halo of Flies 5:00
  • 8 Bottom Feeder / Segue 3 2:52
  • 9 Ebola 4:21
  • 10 Controlled Mayhem Then Erupts 13:57

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata