And its weapon of choice: the cutthroat razor apparently preferred by the thugs of old Sydney town.

Underbelly Razor depicts the Darlinghurst rivalry of sly grog boss Kate Leigh (Danielle Cormack) and brothel madam Tilly Devine (Chelsie Preston-Crayford) from 1927 to 1936.

Judging by the movie-length opening episode, the 13-part series will deliver everything viewers have come to expect from the Nine Network’s flagship drama: nudity, sex, violence, drugs, blood, biff, guns and gore – all handsomely packaged in sepia tones and period clobber.

True to form, the show begins (8.30pm tomorrow on NBN) with a naked woman in a bathtub.

But the flesh that has become Underbelly’s trademark won’t test tolerance levels this time as much as the bursts of unflinching brutality, especially against women.

Viewers aren’t spared the callous beating of a pregnant prostitute, a vicious catfight between Leigh (played by Danielle Cormack) and Devine (Chelsie Preston-Crayford) and the grisly aftermath of a back alley razor attack.

The violence is mostly implied, rather than explicit, but vivid enough to have you wincing in revulsion as blades slice through flesh and blood splatters to the ground.

Rated ‘‘M’’ for it violence, coarse language, sex scenes and drug use, Underbelly Razor is the most compelling Underbelly since the original series delved into Melbourne’s gangland wars of the 1990s.

But it’s not for the squeamish.

Now, over to you. Share your Underbelly thoughts here.