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Astute readers may have realized that August came and went without my usual Songs on the Wind column -- sorry for that!
Here are some songs for September as we head into the fall -- and some for August that would have been included if I hadn't gotten a bit too busy.
The Shannon's Home -- Xandria
A late summer banger if ever there was one, this is symphonic metal at its purest -- perhaps the best iconic "Nightwish song" in recent years. It's uplifting, smooth, bombastic, gets stuck in your head and mixes in just the perfect amount of darkness and spice along the way to create a fantastic experience.
The rest of the album it is from is sadly not as strong as this entry -- but despite that, this song will be getting played by me for a long time to come.
Archipelago -- Exploring Birdsong
You may remember that I highlighted Exploring Birdsong's "The River" back in February 2025. That song was from their 2019 debut EP, and I was really hoping that they weren't defunct and were actually working on a full album. Happily, they were! The band's percussive, piano-powered progressive rock returns and is more fully fleshed out than on their EP.
This song is a grower for sure -- it starts slow and really takes until about halfway through the song before it lets loose. Fantastic vocals, keys and drums abound throughout and present a rich soundscape that holds your interest every step of the way.
Reaper on the Oilfields -- Wayfarer
Ever think about how much country/western and black metal have in common? No? Well, Denver-based Wayfarer have, and they play it to perfection. Their 2023 album, American Gothic, was my first introduction to their sound -- and, really, to the concept of country/western folk metal. Most American folk metal I've listened to has fallen into the Appalachian side of things, but it turns out that the horizon is a bit broader than just that.
This song fits August's laconic energy perfectly. The tempo is slow -- drawling, even -- and the reverb on the guitar strumming and droning vocals really add to the vibe. They have a new album coming out in November and I cannot wait to give it a spin. Definitely not something I ever expected to like, but here we are!
Tir na nOg -- Celtic Woman & Oonagh
This is a "dance in the leaves" song. A rousing stomper in the chorus, the song breathes in the verses between with lyrics drawn from Celtic mythology -- Tir na nOg is a location also contemporarily referred to as Otherworld.
The song overall has a very elvish vibe to it -- likely due to the influence of Oonagh, a German artist who has recorded multiple songs in Tolkien's elvish languages. If that appeals to you, her 2015 album, Aeria, is absolutely fantastic. Just don't expect to understand a word, as almost the whole album is in either some form of Tolkienese elvish or German.
The Midnight Oath -- Varaha
Varaha is a post-metal band from Chicago. This particular track is instrumental, featuring no singing or black metal rasps like many of their other songs. Slow and sweeping, with notes of strings and horns, this song is grandiose in its simplicity. It's exceedingly calming and contemplative, and fits fall mornings perfectly.
Varaha is one of those bands that released an album a while ago -- 2019, in this case -- and that I am eagerly hoping to hear more from. Post-metal is oftentimes hard for me to get into, but it really works for their style.
The Fireside -- Hanging Garden
Oh, dear Hanging Garden, how I love thee in fall. A fantastic employer of classic beauty and the beast vocals, every part of the whole comes together in a perfect mix of light and dark. Strings blend with guitar, which blend with female and male vocals, alongside occasional growls. If you like the Draconian album that I recommended earlier this year, is this album a treat for you.
This song is off their previous album, The Garden, which came out in 2023. They also have a new album from 2026, Isle of Bliss, which is also quite good -- although I think I favor The Garden a little more, especially for fall vibes.
Portrait of Us -- Seven Spires
This isn't even a fall thing. This is an every season thing.
Seven Spires is my favorite band, a title which I hesitantly gave them following 2021's Gods of Debauchery but full-throatedly embrace after 2024's A Fortress Called Home. This song is off that album.
The musicianship? Flawless. The vocals? Adrienne Cowan is the best singer working today. Fight me.
But perhaps the most poignant aspect of Seven Spires for me is actually the lyrics. Lyrics aren't something I typically put a ton of emphasis on when enjoying music -- I listen to a lot of music by bands who sing in languages I can't understand, to say nothing of the growlers and raspers and screamers, which are often a case-by-case basis.
That said, when a band has good lyrics, I notice. And while Seven Spires usually writes good lyrics, this entire album is on an entire other level. The pain and trauma that are expressed and worked through over this album are really something else, and it's done in a way that I found personally cathartic and relatable.
Nowhere is this more true than in the last 30 seconds of this song, where Adrienne slowly descends, word by word, from singing to growling.
The raw emotion on display throughout this album is astonishing, and I really cannot recommend it highly enough. If you're like me, you'll probably be weeping by the end of the final track on the album, "The Old Hurt of Being Left Behind," which pulls a reverse style from "Portrait of Us:" while Adrienne starts out the song with growling vocals dominating, near the halfway mark, she transitions back into singing -- and it's the most catching, beautiful moment. But within the context of the album, it wouldn't be possible without "Portrait of Us."
Arianna McKee is the Design & Editorial Page Editor at The Express.