{"id":18256,"date":"2025-05-20T13:35:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T20:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=18256"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:48:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T20:48:37","slug":"gear-breakdown-kevin-castro-dragonforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/gear-breakdown-kevin-castro-dragonforce\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Breakdown: Kevin Castro Learns &#8220;Through The Fire And Flames&#8221; On The Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When Brandon Toews of Drumeo challenged <strong>Kevin Castro<\/strong> (Pianote) to learn DragonForce\u2019s <em>\u201cThrough The Fire And Flames\u201d<\/em> on the spot, no one expected what happened next. No sheet music. No prep time. Just raw talent, blistering tempo, and a wall of keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Piano Teacher Learns &quot;Through The Fire And Flames&quot; On The Spot\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6dD3WmjL6Fw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin didn\u2019t just survive \u2014 he shredded. And his arsenal of synths, workstations, and keytars gave him everything he needed to meet the moment. Let&#8217;s take a look at the different keys, synth and bass he used to slay this beast of a track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfb9 Nord Stage 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Nord Stage 4<\/strong> was Kevin\u2019s primary controller and sonic workhorse. Known for its immaculate sample libraries, seamless splits\/layers, and intuitive performance interface, this red beast was at the center of the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With lightning-fast program changes and buttery synth leads, Kevin leaned into the Nord for both piano articulation and synth textures, showcasing its versatility under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/o4GQOO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\ud83c\udfb9 Check out the Nord Stage 4 on Sweetwater<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/clavia_nord_stage_4_88.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf9b Arturia AstroLab 61<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>AstroLab<\/strong> is Arturia\u2019s first performance-focused stage keyboard \u2014 and Kevin put it to the test. He tapped into its powerful V Collection engine to summon classic analog tones with modern modulation depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From Moog-style saw waves to Prophet-style pad stacks, the AstroLab let him access hundreds of high-quality synth patches with real-time tweakability thanks to its tactile control interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/EExQy2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\ud83c\udf0c Explore the AstroLab 61 at Sweetwater<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/arturia_astrolab.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd25 Moog Little Phatty Stage II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Few synths growl like a Moog. The <strong>Little Phatty Stage II<\/strong> brought analog weight and thick monophonic leads to Kevin\u2019s sound. Whether dialing in portamento-laced runs or aggressive modulation effects, this beast punched through the mix with analog authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its classic ladder filter and fat oscillators made it a perfect match for the shreddy, over-the-top intensity of DragonForce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/vP0eVv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\ud83c\udf9b Find one on Sweetwater&#8217;s Gear Exchange<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfb8 Roland AX-Edge 49-Key Keytar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because why should guitarists have all the fun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Roland AX-Edge<\/strong> added serious stage presence with its shoulder-sling design and onboard synth engine. Kevin used it to fire off blazing leads, expressive pitch bends, and hero-moment glissandos \u2014 all while moving freely across the stage like a prog-rock sorcerer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just a gimmick: the AX-Edge delivers in tone, control, and playability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/7aD3Mg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u26a1 Rock out with the Roland AX-Edge on Sweetwater<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/intl\/roland_ax_edge_white.htm?offid=1&amp;affid=882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europe<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kevin Castro\u2019s<\/strong> keyboard rig was more than just eye candy \u2014 it was a carefully curated battlefield layout for one of the hardest songs in power metal history. From classic analog grit to modern digital precision, each piece of gear brought something essential to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re building your own live rig or just want to play like a prog warrior, this lineup is a masterclass in sonic range and stage-ready performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20132155\/2025-03-27-Pianote-Kevin-Learns-Through-The-Fire-And-The-Flames-On-The-Spot-112-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find everything mentioned in this Gear Breakdown at <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetwater.sjv.io\/DyqD32\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweetwater<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomannmusic.com\/?offid=1&amp;affid=882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thomann<\/a> if you are overseas. If this video lit a spark to start learning the piano (or sharpen your skills), take the next step and click the link to try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=&amp;utm_term=pianote&amp;utm_campaign=kevincastrodragon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote, free for 7 Days.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/privacy#affiliate-disclosure\"><em> privacy page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Brandon Toews of Drumeo challenged Kevin Castro (Pianote) to learn DragonForce\u2019s \u201cThrough The Fire And Flames\u201d on the spot, no one expected what happened next. No sheet music. No prep time. Just raw talent, blistering tempo, and a wall of keys. Kevin didn\u2019t just survive \u2014 he shredded. And his arsenal of synths, workstations, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":18259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108,509],"tags":[1148,1144,1145,1143,943,1147,1146,434],"class_list":["post-18256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-musicianship","category-technique","tag-arturia","tag-brandon-toews","tag-dragonforce","tag-gear-breakdown","tag-kevin-castro","tag-moog","tag-nord","tag-roland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18256"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18263,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18256\/revisions\/18263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}