Infectiously poppy garage rock act Autonomics have been around for awhile now. There's not really any band in Portland that sounds quite like them - fast paced garage wrapped in a delightful pop punk robe, with hooks as catchy and toe-tapping as the next. For a while now, their full length Debt Sounds has been in heavy circulation in Europe. It's been highly anticipated over here in the States and it's finally made its debut, with Autonomics having commissioned a couple bands to help them in the release show process.

Devy Metal and Ice Queens are slated to excite the crowd as they await to hear Autonomics' new sounds in full. Aside from whatever they've shared of Debt Sounds on stage, "Superfuzz" and "Southern Funeral" have been the only ones available online to dive into. Hear the album live on 9.2 at the Doug Fir Lounge.

Deli Portlanders,

It's been a months long road in the process of nominating and voting on who all of you feel are the city's best musicians for the year. After thinking back on all the shows played and albums released from 2016, we've finally got a solid list of Portland's finest. Take a gander at who you all fell for (and just how much you fell for them), while also showing some love to yourselves and the lovely jurors that participated.

Thanks to our jurors: Linneas Boland-Godbey (Next Northwest), Aaron Sharpsteen (Photographer), Tony Prato (Bunk Bar), Duffy Rongiiland (Gnar Tapes), Rob Cullivan (Portland Tribune), Leigh Belacic (PDX Pop Now), Jeni Wren Stottrup (Gritty Birds Podcast), Annie Ostrowski (Riot Act Media), Blake Hickman (Good Cheer Records), Clifford Prince King (Photographer), Mo Troper (Impose Magazine/Portland Mercury), Chad Davis (Musician), Jordan Stamm (Drunk Dial Records), Hunter Skowron (Dazzleships Records), Todd Walberg (Photographer), Yousef Hatlani (Faces on the Radio), Corbin Corbinn (Crush House/Photographer), and Andrew Olson (dr0ne PR).

Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what you all have been waiting for...

Lithics

Lithics exude mystery. From their experimental punk drone to their intentional lack of an internet presence, they're the band you may not have known existed until you saw them accidentally. They've been coasting in Portland's formerly under-appreciated but always DIY post/art punk scene for almost three years now with just two releases under their belt. Their three track, self-titled tape from 2015 gave us a taste, but it was their 2016 release Borrowed Floors that helped propel them into being Portland's best band of the year.

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2. Cat Hoch

This isn't the first success Cat Hoch and her band have experienced with the Deli. She came out on top entirely in 2015, when she was voted the Best Emerging Artist of that year and was the readers' choice for best in shoegaze and psych rock for this year. From opening up for Ride to commanding even bigger stages, Cat Hoch and her talented group of musicians aren't stopping anytime soon.

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3. Abronia

Ambiently soft yet broodingly heavy, Abronia have expanded their lineup to match their beautifully atmospheric and expansive sound. Our overall pick for best in electronic and experimental and perfect for moments of mental reflection (but easy to enjoy in damn near every other scenario), Abronia's dominanation of the experimental side of the poll makes total sense, and we can't wait to hear new releases from them.

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4. Ice Queens (Alt Rock/Metal, 7pts)

5. Fur Coats (Hip Hop/R&B, 6pts)

6. The Toads (Indie Rock/Post-Punk, 6pts)

7. Mr. Wrong (Punk/Garage, 6pts)

8. Shrine of the Serpent (Alt Rock/Metal, 5.5pts)

9. A Volcano (Alt Rock/Metal, 5pts)

10. dolphin midwives (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

11. Gold Casio (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

12. Chanti Darling (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

13. Lola Buzzkill (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

14. Laura Palmer's Death Parade (Psych/Shoegaze, 5pts)

15. Wave Action (Punk/Garage, 5pts)

16. Donte Thomas (Hip Hop/R&B, 4pts)

17. Little Star (Indie Pop, 4pts)

18. Candace (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

19. Zozma (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

20. On drugs (Punk/Garage, 4pts)

21. James Curry IV (Electronic/Experimental, 3.5pts)

22. Mini Blinds (Indie Pop, 3.5pts)

Despite the late announcement, we've got the winners of our "Best Of" poll ripe and ready for their Deli Portland chart debut. In who all of you considered to be the best in local offerings of metal and alternative rock, let's say a big ol' congratulations to Shrine of the Serpent and Ice Queens.

Tallying the most adoration from both our jurors and our readers, Shrine of the Serpent melds death and black metal with all the gloom of sludgey doom that anyone could ever ask for. Though they've only one self-titled EP under their belt, Shrine of the Serpent has reaped much deserved acclaim from labels like Parasitic Records and Memento Mori. It makes sense, given their triad of members boast resumes including Tenspeed Warlock, Graves at Sea and Sod Hauler as past projects. Let's hope we see a new release from them soon.

Locals' hearts are filled with love for Ice Queens, who won our Deli readers' poll by a landslide. It was just over two years ago when an admiration for rambling '90s rock brought Minden's Evan Houston (guitar) and James Taylor (bass) together with the bearded force of Brandon Nikola on drums and vocalist/guitarist Edgar McRae, eventually breeding their sound salute to the style. Their celebration of syncopation of that decade makes for a captivating performance, with their next one being next month at the Turn Turn Turn.

It's the eve of a new year and here we find ourselves, yet again. Endlessly scrolling through our Facebook events feed wondering what to get into tonight is only so fruitful an effort when there are almost too many things to do on one of the most banging nights of the year. Luckily, we've got some Ice Queens queued up to get us through the afternoon.

For those that haven't gotten a chance to see the amazingness that is Ice Queens live, they'll be playing the Bunk Bar New Year's Eve Spectacular tonight along with Bitch'n and Witch Mountain. 

Until then, enjoy this somewhat Sunny Day Real Estate sounding delight from Ice Queens. It'll definitely get you in the mood for tonight.