Many artists who I cover as part of this blog use their music as a form of therapy. The latest is Lior Golan, who has turned to classic rock to process his trauma.
By Graeme Smith
Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, like most Israelis Golan spent time with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) as part of a mandatory period of service. Sadly for him, the time led to PTSD, a condition he still deals with today, alongside a history of substance abuse, and the loss of his sister at the Nova music festival massacre on 7 October 2023.
In his new EP MIDNIGHT TRAINS you get a palpable sense of release from Golan. Now sober, his art is more important to him than ever, and the record feels like shared relic of processed pain aimed at helping others get through theirs.
It’s the passion of the vocals that bring the emotion to life. Golan really goes for it in moments like the chorus of funky opener CRUEL WIND and the pleasing growl of the dynamically unstoppable MIDNIGHT TRAIN. They deliver lyrics that are philosophical yet relatable against a backdrop of classic rock and blues.
Among Golan’s influences is Led Zeppelin and you hear them most clearly in the bravado of 1991, a collaboration with Gabriel Just. It follows on from You Keep Me Hanging On a slow and soulful instrumental. The two together provide a striking sense of contrast and variety. You Tried Your Best provides a lingering close. A quiet melancholy sets up the track before it builds to the EP’s edgiest moment with monster riffs and frenetic drums. Golan definitely leaves the best to last.
The record was crafted with long-time collaborator Gabriel Lefelman, a partnership that has spanned fifteen years. MIDNIGHT TRAINS is Golan’s first professionally recorded EP, created at Shardo Studio in Israel. The bass and drums were live recorded together while keys by Niv Hovav and guitar were layered on.
Lior Golan is an artist with a fascinating story, an ear for classic rock, and the bravery to share his story so that others can process their pain as much as he has his own. He’s someone I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on. If you want to keep up to date with all he’s doing, you can by following him on Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube Music, and Instagram.
MIDNIGHT TRAINS is out now, and you can listen to it below.