THE BARGAIN BUY: Motorhead; Classic Album Selection (Universal)

In the same excellent series as the Thin Lizzy collection comes this budget-priced six CD collection of noisy albums by the great Motorhead whose frontman/sole constant Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) seems, despite a punishing lifetime of cigarettes, booze and other substances, destined to outlive us all.

He's 66 and not slowing down.

As far back as the autobiographical Capricorn on Overkill he sang, "I always knew the only way is never live beyond today, they proved me right, they proved me wrong, but they could never last this long . . ."

Even back then he was on the precipice but hanging on. 

The albums -- in replica gatefold cardboard sleeves -- are Overkill and Bomber (both from 1979), Ace of Spades ('80), Iron Fist ('82), Another Perfect Day ('83) and their thrilling, essential live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith ('81).

Most of these albums feature the classic line-up of Lemmy, Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor and 'Fast' Eddie Clarke, although for of Another Perfect Day guitarist Clarke was replaced by Thin Lizzy’s Brian Robertson.

This is take-no-prisoners metal which bristles with pop hooks and is -- like the Ramones' cleverly cartoonish trash-punk -- brilliantly reductive.

My guess is Motorhead fans would of course have all of these albums and the mildly curious might have already checked out at least one album just to satisfy themselves.

But at a budget price -- and given the sheer heft of this play-loud music -- this is a rather special offer.

There are no bonus tracks or other faffing about, just rock solid hammer-down metal albums which contain Motorhead classics.

So given the value-per-dollar ratio (just $20 for six CDs in a solid box) at JB Hi-Fi stores here, this is a much recommended Bargain Buy.