At age 49, drummer and heavy metal band Loudness co-founder Munetaka Higuchi passed away on Sunday, November 30th at 10 AM, in a hospital in Osaka, Japan.

The Loudness website announced in April that Higuchi had been diagnosed with liver cancer. Higuchi went through two rounds of chemotherapy and acknowledged on their site in October that his condition was deteriorating despite an operation removing half his liver.

Loudness is known for performing Odin - Starlight Mutiny theme songs: "Gotta Fight" and "Odin." They also performed "Dreamer and Screamer" for the fifth volume of the Shonan Bakuzoku OVA series. Higuchi also performed on the "Animetal Summer" and "Sentimetal" singles for Animetal (An anime theme song heavy metal cover band) on his own. He also performed the drum parts of JAM Project's "Kaze ni Nare" opening theme for the eX-Driver OVA series.

The staff of Anime Dream extend their deepest sympathies to Higuchi-san's friends and family.