Although Northern Room hasn’t made it to the big time quite yet, it is almost a certainty that they will.

Mark my words people. If you haven’t heard the local rock band Northern Room already, you will soon enough.

After spending most of 2007 writing and recording, local Milwaukee rock outfit Northern Room found time to play some gigs and share the stage with a couple big names, including The Gufs and Bon Jovi. This gave them a chance to show Milwaukee their infectious style of arena-worthy rock music, and in doing so the group found themselves drawing comparisons to the likes of Coldplay, Matchbox 20 and even U2.

Having better luck at getting signed to a major label in Japan, (BM.3 Records,) Northern Room decided to release their first full-length album, “Last Embrace,” independently in the U.S. It combined two previously released EPs as well as added three live tracks, making it a deluxe edition.

The album gets right to the point with its first track, “We’re on Fire,” introducing Northern Room’s captivating signature sound and front man Andrew Jonathan, with his alluring vocals. This track contains the energy, intensity and intrigue to not only become the album’s first single, but also has potential to cross over to the mainstream and dominate the charts.

There are so many other great tracks on this album and so few lulls, that it stands as a solid work of music in its entirety. Even the few tracks that initially seem like filler are great works in their own right.

Songs like “Galaxy,” “Waiting” and the title track, “Last Embrace,” which has a bit of an electronic feel, are all possible candidates for singles.

The latter portion of the album contains acoustic versions of “Last Embrace” and “We’re On Fire.” These tracks get stripped down to the basics on these recordings and sound a lot more personal, giving the listener an intimate account of what this band is capable of at their live shows. The sound quality on these tracks is crystal clear and raises question of what sounds better: the studio or the acoustic versions?

Local up-and-coming artists could take a lesson from Northern Room and its recording of “Last Embrace,” a mature-sounding debut record that shines like the work of veteran artists, and all that with a budget of less than $20,000

Although Northern Room hasn’t made it to the big time quite yet, it is almost a certainty that they will. It just seems as though they have all the makings for success, and not just within the band’s chemistry, but with every move they have made to get where they are today.

Be sure to come out and support Milwaukee music as the Northern Room takes the stage at the Miramar Theater live on Feb. 9. Doors open at 7 p.m.

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