Lior Golan Keeps Rock Burning in “MIDNIGHT TRAINS”

The best rock records rarely begin during a brainstorm. They begin with a simple thought: “Forget reinventing rock. Just play it like your life depends on it.” Somehow, that feels like the scenario that happened to Lior Golan’s MIDNIGHT TRAINS.

Producer, composer, and guitarist Lior Golan met Gabriel Lefelman 15 years ago, and the two found themselves on a creative journey that eventually led to this 5-track EP, MIDNIGHT TRAINS.

The EP starts off strong with CRUEL WIND. The bass pops off with groove while the percussion adds more to its irresistible rhythm. It’s the kind of track you’d hear on a car ride—catchy enough to be a banger, yet quietly hits you once you listen closely.

If the opener throws you into some sort of chaos, MIDNIGHT TRAIN is what happens after deciding to keep going anyway. As the EP’s title track, this song sure has some grit and guts that spill far beyond its words. It bleeds into every riff, as if it’s giving you enough horsepower to push through whatever life throws your way.

Keep Me Hanging On follows with its slower rhythm. The groove is still there, but now soaked in whiskey and a heartbreak that lingers like cigarette smoke. The line, “I’m hanging on,” feels hypnotic, as if the bridge has been burned a hundred times, yet somehow there’s always another way back.

The EP gets more angsty and cinematic as 1991 plays. If steel, dust, and blood-stained clothes have manifested into a sound, then this would probably be it. YOU TRIED YOUR BEST started out slow but builds up into a cathartic rock song made for packed venues and loud speakers. Both tracks feature Gabriel JUST, and for an ender, these two really hit the spot.

Musically, all five tracks feel remarkably cohesive without being redundant, as if every layer has been stitched together by hand rather than assembled by formula. And you might say that the guitar riffs appear flashy, but that’s exactly the point; its boldness is what drives you further into its doom. All carry a timeless, yet refreshingly unpretentious sound.

But what really sets it apart is the atmosphere. Nothing about it feels manufactured for mass appeal. It has a sound that can only come from years of playing, living, and hurting, where roughness is merely a style but an experience that’s been earned.

In an era where everyone seems eager to prove something, Lior Golan’s MIDNIGHT TRAINS offers something far more interesting: scraped knuckles, sleepless nights, and stories that still sting years later. And yes, it sounds damn good, too.