The voices of the gods will be heard tonight at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Japanese drumming group Wadaiko Yamato, will perform their show Kami-nari, which literally means "thunder" or "god sound," at 7 p.m. It features themes in nature, which are traditionally considered deities in Japan.

"Each song represents a different idea," group manager Uriel Luft said. "The wind has a god, the sun has a god, each thing represents a god."

The group is made up of men and women who play the ancient Japanese drum style of Taiko.

The group was formed in Nara, Japan, which means "the land of Yomato" and is also considered the origin of Japanese culture, in which Taiko played a large part.

Luft said the group's desire is to make the audience feel the power of a natural phenomenon such as thunder, which reflects these gods.

"They are really energetic and lively," said Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for The Center for Performing Arts. "It has the energy of a rock concert."

She added that despite the language barrier that may exist between the group and the audience, Yamato members convey very clearly their positive enthusiasm and even throw dashes of comedy into their work.

Penn State student James Marsh (freshman-theatre arts) said this style of drums seems extremely interesting, and the talent for the art must be amazing.

"Its such a totally different style of entertainment." Marsh said. "I mean, huge drums, come on!"

Luft said the fact that women are included, which is not traditional, makes the group unique. He also said it adds a certain special interest.

"The women are just as strong as the men, and they compete on stage," Luft said. "Our largest drum is 800 pounds."

Despite the entertainment value, Taiko drumming has a much more sacred meaning. Luft said the art of Taiko drumming is very ancient and sacred to Japan, and it is used for many religious ceremonies such as funerals, festivals or even as a means of prayer. He added that he thinks it is an expression of nature and a deep emotional experience to play or hear.

"[The art of Taiko] is to translate through drums and communicate their soul to the soul of the audience," Luft said.