Fast forward to late 2013 and Mr.Underhill's lost album The World Through X-Ray Eyes is finally given a proper release, now available digitally and on vinyl in extremely limited quantities featuring 13 tracks of the band's trademark vampire punk rock. Listening to it through, it is clear that the record was unfinished, but the rawness of the production adds an edge to the songs that further studio refinements may have eliminated. "5000 Fingers of Dr.T" features 50's pop harmonies and lifts a guitar riff straight from D Generation's "No Way Out" whilst "My Middle Eye" and "Pistol Whipped and Bloody Lipped" see the band exploring a more subdued rockabilly/flamenco guitar style a la Tiger Army.
The band are at their best when songs are played fast, kept short, and there is less opportunity for the vocals to warble uncontrollably and this is the case on both "The Grange" and "The Crush". The one negative I can pick out is that Chris' vocals are all over the place and something he has addressed with his solo work.
Whilst it is great that The World Through X-Ray Eyes has finally seen the light of day, the reality is that the music subsequently created by the bands it itself spawned, make this record sound dated by comparison. One for the completists only I'm afraid.
Rating: 6/10 skulls
Available on vinyl(sold-out)/digital:
https://www.facebook.com/mrunderhilmusicl
Reviewed by Steven Farkas