By Staff | March 21, 2026

Emerging from the subterranean basements of Seoul, 18fevers serves as a raw contradiction, even a rejection of conformity. The band is fueled by a shared frustration with social gatekeeping and the pressures of hyper-competitive South Korean capitalism, serving as a high-energy punk collective. Their identity is defined by a "fuck you" mindset and a commitment to radical inclusivity, deliberately using their platform to advocate for feminist and LGBTQ+ rights in a traditionally conservative society. Musically, they prioritize a chaotic, often unhinged energy designed to shatter the numbness of modern life, as their loud, fast performances serve almost as a communal catharsis. Despite facing pushback from those who label their stances as too political, the band continues to foster a sanctuary for the marginalized, proving that the struggle against the status quo is a universal language fueled by both rage and a deep sense of mutual care for not just their fans, but everyone.

Seoul is often marketed as a polished, neon K-pop dream. How does the blood and sweat of your live shows act as a middle finger to that curated image of South Korea?

Christmas: Yeah lots of people think Seoul is very touristy city but just like other beautiful cities in Korea, it runs by lots of working class people and also has a great alt music scene. Not only us, we have and have had so many hardcore badass bands from the 90s. I wish more people knows about this other than Kpop.

Matt: As always what you see in the media is curated. Seoul is a beautiful and diverse place that has influenced our music a lot. I love it with all my heart but it’s also gritty and rough around the edges which I also love. We literally play in dark basements most of the time. What we do isn’t so much a middle finger as it is us in our element reveling in that aspect of the city.

Garik: The polished, neon k-pop dreamscape of Seoul makes the raw gritty punk more fun! Our first band photos were taken under a futuristic looking, neon-lit bridge.

You hit the ground running in 2021. What was the specific collective moment or event that made forming 18fevers a necessity rather than just a hobby?

Christmas: As soon as I met Matt and started talking, I knew this band was it.

Matt: Spite. I had some motherfuckers trying to gatekeep and stop me from pursuing my passion and I wanted to show them I will do this no matter what, which I did. Also playing with Garik and Christmas was straight up fun from the beginning.

Garik: When all of the members wore guyliner makeup for band photos; that’s when we felt official.

Your music is described as unfiltered and unhinged. When you’re on stage, do you view the volume and chaos as a tool for catharsis, or is it a deliberate weapon against the status quo?

Christmas: I think when we make music by ourselves it is more tactical and we think a lot how it would impact the listeners. But up on stage, we just do what we wanna do, nobody knows what each other is gonna do on stage that night, haha.

Matt: We just let the music take hold and want to be loud, noisy, and thrashy. We’re not refined but we’re skilled and the volume can be used to awaken the same thing in the audience. We want to push chaos and get people feeling SOMETHING for 30 minutes in this world where everyone is numb.

Garik: If bringing people together to dance is a weapon against the status quo, sign me up.

Word is you are set to appear on a charity punk compilation put out by a New York record label (us!). Have you appeared on any comps before, and if so, what has your experience been?

Christmas: We have been in one compilation album so far and it was very early on our career. Recording can be frustrating while it’s happening but it’s so worth it

Matt: We are on the upcoming Doll Fest vinyl and another Korean punk comp coming soon. We recorded a song for a record label comp here in Korea and then the owner threw a tantrum about us doing the other Korean comp and kicked us off his label haha. We’re gonna redo it in the future for our album.

Garik: The 1 in 18Fevers usually comes first in alphabetical order. That was a happy accident.

You’ve made it clear you’re coming for anyone who preys on the little people. Who currently sits at the top of your list of people or institutions that need a good kick in the ass (or head)?

Christmas: Oh I think we are all thinking the same shitty ass (literally :D) orange man.

Matt: I’ve lived in Korea for 12 years but as an American what is happening with the orange turd and ICE is fucking appalling and embarrassing. I’ve been funneling whatever support I can to people resisting that shit. In Korea? Homophobes and transphobes who are obsessed with other people’s lives.

Garik: Instead of kicking someone's ass (or head), let’s lift each other up. Hostility only brings more hostility. We are not victims. We are not gatekeepers to tell someone what it is. We are excited to share our gifts to anyone who cares to listen.

Punk has a history of being a boys' club. How do you physically and musically ensure your shows remain a safe, inclusive sanctuary for the LGBTQ community and feminists in a conservative society?

Christmas: I always try to say out loud our beliefs and what we support on the stage cuz Korea is very very conservative even in the underground scene. And you never know who’s racist, a homophobe or other bullshit human being. So I always try to yell as loud as I can we stand for lesser and weaker.

Matt: Just reinforce that it’s for everyone any chance we get it and show appreciation for anyone in these basements with us. If they found us and took the brave step of coming to the show then we will show them as much love as we can.

Garik: Everyone is welcome. Everyone is invited. You can boo the band—just help someone up if they fall in the pit.

Many of your lyrics dissect the pressures of modern capitalism. In a city as hyper-competitive as Seoul, how do you personally keep the system from crushing your creative spirit?

Christmas: Man, I don’t even know at this point cuz I was born and raised here. And it takes time and effort to not be crushed by this societal pressure that all of your friends and family kinda surrendered to. I had to go through lots of things in my life but I guess it all comes down to a “fuck you” mindset.

Matt: Music is the way. It’s an outlet for rage and frustration but it’s also a bridge to people who have similar ideas and beliefs. Once you have that community to come to on the weekends it makes things easier. Oh, cats help too!

Garik: A creative spirit is a gift, albeit fragile. You can do it poorly. You can be sloppy. Expressing yourself, even a little bit, is a beautiful thing. Feed the spark of creation that whispers to get out.

After an alcohol-fueled, high-octane performance, what does the come down look like for the band? Is there a sense of peace after the riot?

Christmas: I always get super nervous until right before the set so after is so much more fun. And I also don’t drink before the set haha. My drinking starts ON the stage so I’m always happy to come down and drink the rest of my whiskey.

Matt: In Korea the after party is the big event so often the drinking ramps up at the Korean BBQ place. Once again the peace comes through that communal experience which is one of my favorite things about Korean culture.

Garik: Gratitude. Being thankful, blessed, or whatever you wanna call it; we are honored to bask in the moment after being on stage.

You tackle issues both in Korea and abroad. Do you find that the punk struggle is universal, or are there specific Korean societal pressures that provide a unique fuel for your fire?

Christmas: I guess we are lot more competitive than rest of the world and so much more afraid of not fitting in. Every time someone says “that’s too much” I’ll be like “exactly”.

Matt: The problems are the same but the flavor might be a bit different. It’s a capitalist system connected to the global system so the problems are all too familiar.

Garik: It’s easy to feel pressure from society, from parents, or even from yourself. The struggle is universal. We all want acceptance and belonging. We are all looking for a sliver of worth in a fast moving world.

Being uncompromising and confrontational can come with pushback. Have you faced censorship or hostility for your stances on feminism and queer rights, and how does that affect your resolve?

Christmas: We always hear from people we are too political, too feminist (whatever that means) and I recently got told that we are using our message as a gimmick from a dude who calls himself a punk. Sometimes you gotta fightback and confront as hard as you can, sometimes you walk away never let anything hold you back.

Matt: sure that happens but I think the positive responses will always overshadow the haters who typically aren’t anyone that matter enough to worry about.

Garik: Everyone deserves to have their own beliefs and values. You don’t have to agree with someone to treat them like a decent human. You don’t need to be overly nice or go the extra mile, but respect and personal space goes a long way to help someone feel welcome.

When the sweat dries and the amps are turned off, what is the one thing you want a first-time listener to take home with them?

Christmas: I want them to know punk is love, punk is kind.

Matt: You can be pissed off and have a good time. Anger is a valid emotion and it doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate the beautiful things in life too. Get angry, have fun, and let’s make beautiful memories together.

Garik: Be careful out there, depression can creep up fast. Like Ursula wrapping her tentacles around you, pulling you under in a deep ocean of despair.