Most headphone makers push really hard on the bass and treble, which tends to make pop and R&B sound their punchiest. With the Bomber headphones, iPhone accessories maker Krussel, in collaboration with British heavy metal band Motorhead (a blast from the 70s and early 80s), is aiming for something that’s friendlier to rock, with a more neutral response. Even though the headphones are being marketed as insanely loud, we found that, as a result, these headphones are much more versatile than, say, Beats by Dr. Dre.

+ Rock sounds great.

+ So do original soundtracks and classical music. Jazz is pretty good, too.

+ Nice touches: the weaved cable doesn’t get all twisted, 90-degree-angle gold-plated plug, mic and controls for smartphones on the cable.

+ Light and comfortable, particularly the headband, which has two little pads to distribute the weight firmly and evenly, even when walking.

- If you listen mainly to pop and R&B, you might prefer punchier headphones designed for that kind of sound.

- Did we mention the tusked hell beast prominently etched on the headphone cups?

- Like many headphones, they start hurting your ears after 45-60 minutes. Maybe the bigger “Motorizer” model, which fits around your ears, not on them, would be comfier.

- Sound isolation is not that great, so you end up listening to your stuff quite loud in noisy places (on the BTS, for example), which is bad for your ears.

- The plastic feels a bit cheap. Overall, the headphones don’t feel too premium.

Verdict: The Motorhead Phones line also features two in-ear earphones. We tried the “Trigger,” which we didn’t like at all (tinny sound, no controls on the cable, cheap-feeling materials). In fact, we’re not exactly moved by the whole Motorhead branding. “Because like us, these don’t f*** around,” says the box. “If it’s too loud, you’re too old!” Are they being ironic? Motorhead’s front man, Lemmy, is 67! Still, we find these headphones are a great option for those who listen to more than the usual pop/r’n’b hits. They really sound great with all kinds of music, even when played at civilized volumes. Call us old, but for Johann Strauss, Jim Morrison, Miles Davis and, OK, maybe a bit of Motorhead, too, the Bomber gets our approval. US$99.99 at www.amazon.com