What better way to take a much-deserved break from the vapid Hollywood wasteland than to roll up a fat one and bro down with some of the best stoner/doom rock/metal bands in the world? Tee Pee Records is hosting the second annual “Manifest Destiny” this Sunday, September 7th, at The Echoplex on Glendale, and you shan’t be disappointed — notable acts on the bill include the almighty Witchcraft from Sweden, San Diego’s Earthless, and Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis’ band Witch (in which J plays drums).

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Those who complain we don’t dedicate enough space to left coast coverage, take heed — the Manifest Destiny festival is coming to The Echoplex in Los Angeles on September 7th. The festival, which is curated by Tee Pee Records, features bands from the label’s roster of stoned-out, psychadelic metal — Witchcraft, Earthless, Witch, The Warlocks, Graveyard, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, Ancestors, Night Horse, and T.K. Webb & the Visions. That is a fucking phenomenal lineup, and the day promises to be full of good times in additional to great music — so be sure to bring some shrooms with you, or at least some pot brownies… ya hear?

After the jump, check out the trippy tour poster artwork.

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So while it was rumored for awhile that this year’s edition of Ozzfest would be a two day event – but it has now been announced that it’ll be just one single day, on Saturday, August 9, at at Pizza Hut Park* in Dallas, Texas. The line-up will be as follows:

Main Stage
OZZY OSBOURNE
METALLICA
SERJ TANKIAN
HELLYEAH
JONATHAN DAVIS
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
SHADOWS FALL
APOCALYPTICA
IN THIS MOMENT
All-Star Tribute To “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott

Second Stage
SEVENDUST
DEVILDRIVER
KINGDOM OF SORROW
SOILENT GREEN
WITCHCRAFT
GOATWHORE

Texas (Third) Stage
THE SWORD
DROWNING POOL
RIGOR MORTIS

Actually, that is, by no means, a terrible line-up; if the stages are staggered at all (and I imagine they will be), it would be plenty easy to keep oneself occupied during sets from In This Moment, Jonathan Davis, and HellNo. And I guess it’s honorable of Metallica to let Ozzy play last, even though, at this point, a) they’re much bigger than Ozzy and b) Ozzy has to be in bed by 8 pm. I mean, if I was Ozzy, and I’d spent recent Ozzfests getting blown off the stage by the likes of Maiden and Priest, I certainly wouldn’t wanna follow Metallica. But, y’know, nice of Ulrich and Hetfield to step aside for one night and let the Ozzman cometh.

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No, not the art of sorcery and spell-casting, which are in fact pretty damn metal — but the rock band from Sweden. What’s the deal with this band getting all sorts of metal press lately in mags like Revolver? Listen to the track “Walk Between the Lines” on their MySpace page and try to argue this band is metal, I dare you. Really they’re two parts Doors, one part modern-indie-jangly guitar rock, and maybe one part Sabbath.

Not that this is a bad thing; I mean, I love The Doors. But metal? Someone please explain this one to me. Maybe all you need to do these days to be metal is to look metal. Either their publicist deserves a giant bonus or my ears are broken.

-VN

PS: Here’s a band whose name also starts with “W” who are definitely metal.