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The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord

by Cabaret Voltaire

Released: October 14, 1985

New wave, synthpop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

"The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord" is the seventh studio album by the influential electronic band Cabaret Voltaire, released in November 1985 through Some Bizarre Records. Despite this success, the band would later transition to EMI for their 1987 follow-up album, Code. The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord remains a notable entry in Cabaret Voltaire's discography, reflecting their experimental ethos and willingness to challenge societal norms.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album's title was shortened to The Arm…

The album's title was shortened to The Arm of the Lord for its release in the United States due to concerns over its association with a white supremacist group.

Cabaret Voltaire faced significant censorship challenges with their…

Cabaret Voltaire faced significant censorship challenges with their label, including objections from Virgin Records regarding the album's provocative content.

The album showcased a more abrasive, sample-heavy sound…

The album showcased a more abrasive, sample-heavy sound than its predecessor, with lyrics rich in sexual innuendo.

The inclusion of Charles Manson's speeches interspersed between…

The inclusion of Charles Manson's speeches interspersed between tracks further stirred controversy.

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Explore the Album

Cabaret Voltaire - The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord

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Then

Reception

This subversive approach helped secure the album's success, which peaked at number 57 on the UK charts, solidifying Cabaret Voltaire's relationship with Some Bizarre. Under pressure to produce a commercially viable single, the band cleverly released a music video for "I Want You," a track that Richard H. Kirk later revealed was about masturbation.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord" is the seventh studio album by the influential electronic band Cabaret Voltaire, released in November 1985 through Some Bizarre Records. The album's title was shortened to The Arm of the Lord for its release in the United States due to concerns over its association with a white supremacist group.

Cabaret Voltaire faced significant censorship challenges with their label, including objections from Virgin Records regarding the album's provocative content. The album showcased a more abrasive, sample-heavy sound than its predecessor, with lyrics rich in sexual innuendo. The inclusion of Charles Manson's speeches interspersed between tracks further stirred controversy.

Under pressure to produce a commercially viable single, the band cleverly released a music video for "I Want You," a track that Richard H. Kirk later revealed was about masturbation. This subversive approach helped secure the album's success, which peaked at number 57 on the UK charts, solidifying Cabaret Voltaire's relationship with Some Bizarre.

Despite this success, the band would later transition to EMI for their 1987 follow-up album, Code. The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord remains a notable entry in Cabaret Voltaire's discography, reflecting their experimental ethos and willingness to challenge societal norms.