Released on 12th March 2026, “MIDNIGHT TRAINS” introduces Tel Aviv-based rock artist Lior Golanthrough five tracks shaped by passion, pain, imagination, and an enduring commitment to authentic expression. Rather than approaching the project as a purely commercial release, Golan presents it as art born from personal experience and a desire to transform difficult emotions into something meaningful. His sound draws strongly from the hard-hitting dynamics of Led Zeppelin, alongside influences from Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Muse, Faith No More, King Crimson, Cream, and Lamb of God. Across the EP, these influences contribute to a rock identity built around powerful guitars, expressive instrumentation, strong dynamics, and an uncompromising emotional character.
At the heart of “MIDNIGHT TRAINS” is Golan’s 15-year musical partnership with guitarist Gabriel Lefelman. Their collaboration began through mutual musical connections and quickly developed into a natural songwriting relationship, with the two creating music wherever they could, including the streets of Tel Aviv. Their journey involved several versions of their band, difficulties finding suitable musicians, financial challenges, limited opportunities to perform, and the constant challenge of sustaining a rock project in Israel. Eventually, after years of developing as musicians and individuals, Golan and Lefelman decided to bring in professional musicians and properly record their material. The resulting recordings remained on Golan’s laptop for another four years before circumstances finally allowed the project to reach listeners.
MIDNIGHT TRAINS EP Track Reviews:
Cruel Wind:
“Cruel Wind” wastes no time establishing the rock-driven identity of “MIDNIGHT TRAINS,” opening with crunchy, blues-influenced electric guitar riffs and a pulsating bassline that immediately creates forward momentum. Lior Golan’s guitar work sits at the centre of the arrangement, while Niv Hovav’s Hammond organ introduces warm, retro textures that give the track additional depth and character. Gabriel Just’s raspy, unpolished vocals add a raw emotional quality, carrying lyrics that dwell on the monotony of heartache, despair, and emotional exhaustion. The arrangement becomes particularly expressive through its contrasts, moving between aggressive, louder passages and quieter moments of introspection. Around the 3:20 mark, the instrumentation pulls back into a solitary mid-song bridge, creating an atmosphere of remorse and isolation before the song gradually surges back into a heavier rock passage. The rhythm section then drives the track toward an extended finale, where Golan’s soaring guitar solos meet Hovav’s energetic organ fills in a spontaneous, live-room climax that preserves the track’s passionate character.
Midnight Train:
“Midnight Train” captures the restless energy at the heart of the EP, combining industrial momentum with a classic rock sensibility. The track moves forward with heavy drums and a churning bassline that creates the rhythmic impression of a locomotive in motion, while Lior Golan’s thick, weighty guitar riffs reinforce its muscular character. The smoky vocal delivery adds an authentic swagger, carrying the song’s themes of restlessness, escape, and the tension between moving forward and remaining connected to the past. The instrumental bridge provides one of the track’s defining moments, unfolding through a two-part vintage solo sequence. A soaring Hammond organ passage arrives first, bringing warmth and classic rock colour before giving way to Golan’s searing blues-rock guitar solo. Meanwhile, the chorus maintains a strong melodic quality without losing the track’s hard-edged, dive-bar rock atmosphere. As the arrangement builds toward its punchy conclusion, the central guitar hook remains firmly embedded in the listener’s memory, giving “Midnight Train” an energetic and memorable finish.
You Tried Your Best:
“You Tried Your Best” brings “MIDNIGHT TRAINS” to an emotionally powerful close with a six-minute-plus performance written entirely by Lior Golan. The track begins gently, with soft guitar lines and a restrained vocal performance from Gabriel Just that establishes an intimate and reflective atmosphere. Its lyrics explore failure, vulnerability, acceptance, and endurance, offering a compassionate perspective on surviving personal trauma and moments of darkness. The understated opening allows the emotional message to develop naturally before the arrangement begins expanding. As the performance progresses, the song gradually transforms from a quiet narrative ballad into a sweeping rock anthem. The live recording gives the instrumentation space to breathe, preserving natural acoustic details, room dynamics, and the unfiltered strain in the vocals. Golan’s lead guitar becomes increasingly expressive as the track approaches its conclusion, eventually rising into a soaring final solo. The full band then converges in a heavy, expansive climax, giving “You Tried Your Best” a cathartic ending that feels particularly suited to loud speakers and live venues.
The recording itself captures the organic energy that Golan wanted from the project. Recorded at Shardo Studio in Israel through an SSL console, the five tracks feature bass and drums recorded simultaneously, helping preserve a live quality within the performances. Keyboard work from Niv Hovav adds another layer of musical colour, while layered guitars provide additional depth and intensity. Professional mixing and mastering give the EP a polished presentation while retaining the character of the performances. Behind the music is a deeply personal chapter of Golan’s life, including his experiences with PTSD following his IDF service, substance abuse, recovery, and the devastating loss of his sister at the NOVA party. Writing became a means of escape and expression during those difficult periods, eventually becoming part of his path toward renewed focus and sobriety.
MIDNIGHT TRAINS Is A Powerful Rock EP Where Passion, Pain, Resilience, Friendship, And Raw Musicianship Converge, Transforming Years Of Struggle Into Heartfelt, Uncompromising Art
~ Faithfulness (Dulaxi Team)
That personal history gives “MIDNIGHT TRAINS” its deeper significance, as the EP represents not simply the completion of old recordings but the continuation of a long creative journey between two musicians who refused to abandon their shared vision. With encouragement from Israeli artist Guy Mentesh, Golan ultimately chose to release the five songs independently after years of sitting on the material. His journey from meeting Lefelman on the streets of Tel Aviv to finally bringing their music into a professional studio reflects the persistence behind the project. Now working from his own studio and developing new material, Golan continues to build on that foundation, with “MIDNIGHT TRAINS” standing as a heartfelt expression of rock musicianship, friendship, resilience, and the belief that music can transform painful experiences into something that reaches others.
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