Battery Lane
From the first twangy upbeat notes of the opening track, singer-songwriter Zack Keim’s new album, Battery Lane, plunges listeners into a deep, personal, introspective soundscape that blends elements of indie folk and alternative with clever lyrics of self-discovery and youthful heartbreak.
In 2014, Keim burst onto Pittsburgh’s underground “garage” scene with former teenage angst-filled rock ‘n’ roll outfit the Nox Boys. During his time with the Nox Boys, Keim experimented with various musical ideas and sounds that would impact his future projects.
With the success of their 2014 debut self-titled release, Nox Boys, Keim began to build a reputation in Western Pennsylvania as a young and talented musician with his high-energy performances and in-your-face attitude.
Keim continued to pursue his endeavors as a solo artist, and in 2017, he released his debut album, First Step. As cliche as it sounds, the album title pays homage to Keim's attempt to branch out as an independent artist. The simplicity of the album plays it safe, with Keim’s raw, high-pitched vocals over soft ambient guitar melodies that draw inspiration from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.
Eight years after his debut release, Keim is back with his 2025 sophomore album, Battery Lane, which features some of his finest and refreshing work to date. With this new release, Keim ditches his acoustic blues-folk-driven sound in favor of a much fuller indie folk-inspired approach.
The opening track, “Canyon,” was released as a single in 2022, and cemented Keim’s lyrical structure and sound for the album. The use of catchy, upbeat acoustic and electric guitars and the pounding of relaxed drum shuffles showcased a glimpse of what would come in the future.
Throughout the album, Keim reflects on moments of longing and despair that paint an honest picture of a musician struggling to come to terms with his past and present.
In the track “Battery Lane” Keim takes the listener into a deep lyrical rollercoaster of emotions. At the same time, he fantasizes about the street he lived on in the D.C. area and what he could have done to make it better: “I lug the weight of my unfinished dreams,/ Tripping over my destiny./I gotta learn to let it go.”
For a moment, on the track “25 Years,” Keim lets out a soaring vocal melody that resembles some of his earlier projects. Keim’s catchy opening chorus is accompanied by raunchy-sounding electric guitars similar to the Nox Boys.
Battery Lane stands as a testament to Keim’s musical prowess and his ability to capture beautiful snapshots of his past within his music.