Kevin Kastning :: Codex II

Codex II :: Reviews & Quotes

"I listened to Codex I and II carefully. I hear great developments from your last solo period. Almost immaculate technique. This series is your most monumental work, not only for you but also for the guitar world."

- Sandor Szabo (HUNGARY)

"I like the recordings of Codex I and II. First of all, I have to say that I heard a completely new Kevin, the instruments sound like I hear a big orchestra, I discovered fantastic colors and drama. The compositions are brilliant! I would like to congratulate you!"

- Balazs Major (HUNGARY)

KEVIN KASTNING TO RELEASE TWO NEW ALBUMS

"Kevin Kastning, master of the multi string guitar, is about to release two new albums: "Codex I" and "Codex II".

Both albums feature Kevin on 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, and 6-string guitar.

Kevin adds:

The compositions in the Codex series are some rather complex compositions involving new guitaristic techniques. Each piece on Codex I and Codex II was recorded live in the studio as one performance in a single take. There are no overdubs or edits.

My technique is such that I'm playing my doubleneck instruments with one hand on each neck. This facilitates simultaneous multiple lines and harmonic structures that are not otherwise possible. The recording setup on these instruments is very much in stereo. The doubleneck instruments are recorded such that the left neck is located in the left stereo channel, and the right neck is located in the right stereo channel. Listening with headphones provides a soundstage revealing which part is performed on which neck. Hearing the separate parts, the lines, the harmonic structures, and where they're originating, may provide clarity, and aid in the understanding of the compositions.

The result is astonishing.
Beautiful timbres and layered soundscapes, exuding a sense of wonderment and peace of mind.
"Codex I" and "Codex II" are out on January 27."

- United Mutations
January 2026

Kevin Kastning — Codex I
(Greydisc GDR3600, 2026, CD / DL)

Kevin Kastning — Codex II
(Greydisc GDR3601,, 2026, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-02-27

"Those who have been following Kevin Kastning for any period of time will know that most of his recordings are collaborative efforts featuring other performers, sometimes on guitars but as often on woodwinds, bass, trumpet, piano, percussion, and more. For the two releases at hand — which could have been a single release save for the capacity of the compact disc medium — he goes it alone for a series of tracks performed live in the studio without overdubs playing a number of his low-register double-necked custom made guitars: 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, and the 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, along with a regular six-string guitar. For these recordings he is playing the two necks of whatever guitar he is playing simultaneously, one hand on each of the necks, offering multiple lines and harmonic structures that would not be possible otherwise. The recordings are such that such that the left neck of each instrument is heard in the left channel and the right neck in the right channel, thus providing a unique stereo image best experienced on a set of quality headphones, providing further clarity as to how these compositions are constructed. Without them, or a quality speaker system with adequate separation, the result may not always have the appropriate clarity to provide a good understanding of what’s being played, especially when both necks of the guitar are dwelling in the lowest registers. What’s not entirely clear is what separates the material on Codex I from that on Codex II — there are seven tracks on the former and six on the latter, the first five-or-so pieces on Codex I are all in the very lowest registers, then the guitar is changed out for another that features more high end; whether that’s the instrument itself or the way it’s being played, I cannot determine, and really it’s unimportant in the grander scheme, as the entirety of the set (one disc after the other) is fascinating enough to hold the listener spellbound from beginning to end."

- Exposé Magazine (US)
February 2026

"Codex I and Codex II are the new Greydisc Records albums from Kevin Kastning. These albums introduce the new Codex solo series, which will extend over the next few years. These are Kevin’s 7th and 8th solo albums; his first since 2018’s 30/36.

Kevin’s unique instrumentation provides a singular palette for these 13 new compositions for multi-string contraguitars. Kevin’s compositional and harmonic concepts have evolved in the years since his last solo outing, which can be heard in each of these modern compositions.

Codex I and Codex II were recorded during the summer of 2025, and are now being released as albums for the first time.

Codex I and Codex II features Kevin Kastning on 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 6-string guitar."

- Progressive Rock Central
March 2026

Kevin Kastning - 2026 - "Codex II"

(39:52; Greydisc)

(6 out of 6 stars)

“But wait, there’s more!” (as they say on those annoying TV ads). Not content with releasing ‘Codex I’, we also get ‘Codex II’, released on the same date. Many of the pieces are connected to the first album, at least in title, and one wonders if Kevin had thought about releasing this as a double CD set instead of two separate albums, given one is 45 minutes in length and the other 40. There is also a separate argument of possibly cutting some material and releasing it as a single disc, but I am truly glad he did not as there is something very special here. The concept and approach are the same here as on ‘Codex I’, so much of the same commentary and descriptions still apply, but I discovered there is something “more” about this album. I must confess I am not sure if it is just falling under the spell of Kevin having always played this after listening yet again to the first one, or if this one is actually that bit more special, but when playing this time stands still, and all that exists are the notes, nothing else matters. It is massively complex, hugely challenging to play, yet for the intricacies there is still plenty of room for space and reverb, ensuring the dynamics are kept clear and contrasting as we are taken on a voyage of discovery. This is a hugely compelling album, not only on a technical and skill level, but very much on the musical level as somehow Kastning is creating otherworldly sounds and compositions which totally make sense, played on instruments he created, taking us to new levels of consciousness. It is as if most painters only use shades of grey, but he is in technicolour which allows him to bring different worlds to life in ways others can only imagine. Having listened to many of his albums, solo and with others, there is no doubt this is my favourite to date, absolutely essential."

- Progressor (Uzbekistan)
March 2026