24th November 2025

Review: “Suspicious Package” by Tape It Shut

For the past decade or so Reading politically charged and socially aware Punk Rock trio Tape It Shut have been airing their frustrations in search of catharsis, providing light entertainment while raging against the system in thoroughly relatable fashion. Whether you’re angry at the world, the government or your boss, there is a good chance that they have a song for you an now its finally time for their debut album. Recorded, Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Daly George (Creeper, Boston Manor, Slowcrush) at The Ranch Production House, “Suspicious Package” comprises no less than sixteen anthems as guitarist and vocalist Dan Tape is joined by bassist and vocalist Kane Preston and drummer Andrew Owens once more…

Wearing influences from the likes of Green Day, Frenzal Rhomb, and NoFx on their collective sleeves with a deep rooted sense of satire, the politically charged “Com-Mutiny” gets the ball rolling as the first song of this debut album from Tape It Shut. In what feels like day dream Dan Tape sings about tripping someone who feels like they’re better than the rest at a train station, knocking them off the pedestal that they’ve put themselves on. It’s the kind of song that puts a smile on your face with quick witted lyricism while sonically sticking to Punk Rock simplicity to let the narrative do the talking. The combination is one that Tape It Shut have been using since they first started out on their journey and it works as well as Jack Daniels and Coke. Who doesn’t fancy knocking someone who thinks they’re high and mighty down a peg or two? Injecting a catchy chorus “Deathtraps Waiting To Happen” muses on how things like buildings collapsing due to sea shells in concrete and how we’d just be happy if people didn’t have to die to get changes to regulations. That makes it one of many thought provoking tunes to help you breathe more easily and once again, who doesn’t agree with that sentiment? “$cam” is one we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Tape It Shut play live on numerous occasions, its sing-a-long chorus designed from the ground up for festival stages. What the three piece have managed to do with the album version is capture their live energy like lightening in a bottle, so if you find yourself joining them and singing “What a scam, what a scam, what a scam!” out loud, don’t be surprised.

Preston get’s a bass solo at the start of “Employee Of The Hour” that is a real stand out moment from an underrated instrument, Dan Tape’s unhinged, rant laden vocal performance telling you all you need to know about his feelings. A tasteful solo and a funky bridge add another dimension, pushing the envelope containing the message home in a way which makes you crack a smile. A bass line which is reminiscent of “Brain Stew” by Green Day gives “See Yourself In Five” instant appeal and that’s followed by a lyrical narrative that anyone who has suffered from depression or anxiety will understand. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Honestly? On a beach in the Bahamas having won the lottery? The owner of an Alternative Music venue putting on bands every night? Anything but working the 9-5 grind. So when you gets asked by your prospective employer, what are you going to say? Honesty ain’t always the best policy now is it? The tight rhythmic attack of “Food Food Food” ensures the high energy flow continues with solid musicianship before “Easy Pickings” returns to the verve and swagger of the satire in Punk ‘n Roll style. The only guest appearance on the record comes on “Logical Sense” which finds Rachel and Jim Butler-Bridgeman from Missing The Scene joining the party for an anthem about how people are twisting the narrative of what’s happening to suit an ulterior motive. When you think about it why is immigration such a hot political issue when the number of illegal immigrants is so small? The energy of the song matches the depth of feeling in the lyrics and having a female voice on the track adds another layer as the riffs fly in all directions. Continuing the vibe “Normalisation II” discusses how we’re becoming desensitized to the world with what we see on the news in short and sweet fashion, Dan Tape telling it how it is without being afraid of the consequences and rightly so.

Well worked stop-start patterns along with screamed vocals from Preston during the bridge make “Parasites Inc” a stand out as Tape It Shut rant and rave about businessmen claiming to be investors while bleeding their customers dry. A powerful statement piece it would have worked just as well as an opening cut, the trio demonstrating their skills with yet another well thought out piece that commands the attention. “Patronising Pep Talk” then discusses the kind of awkward work situation we’ve all faced from time to time with a sense of humour and a funky bridge, Dan Tape giving the kind of comebacks that we all wish we had done in his position. Daly George has nailed the mix, ensuring a clean and crisp drum sound while positioning the bass so that its closer to the guitars which have a nice crunchy tone. Two step riffs and catchy lyrics make “Take One Please” shine, the play on silences with well timed gaps between instrumentation working incredibly well. It maybe a simple formula but it leaves no hiding places so if its not nailed to perfection there is no in between.

Programmed drums give “Announcement To The Carriage” a different texture, the sinister guitars of the bridge enhancing the clever nature of the narrative and once again proving that the storytelling abilities of Dan Tape are second to none. A conjoined twin and introduction piece for title track “Suspicious Package” it cuts dead for a fraction of a second before the trio take flight with roaring guitars and a sing-a-long chorus “Don’t you find it suspicious…” that is as fearfully addictive as the latest designer drug. So much so that if you don’t find yourself randomly singing it at 2am when you can’t sleep you need to go and see a doctor to find out what’s wrong with you. The leads add that earworm quality, the samples adding another flavour. A note on the pressures of modern society painted in pure Punk style “This Evening” will make you pause for thought, the tasteful solo, melodic bridge and shouted vocal parts all perfectly weighted for maximum effect. Saving the best solo until last, there is a melancholia to the tale of insomnia driven by overthinking that is “Sleep In The Ashes” and lyrically, it’s another to which we can all relate. A lively, fun collection of angry anthems which proves that the truth is often stranger than fiction, “Suspicious Package” is the best of Tape It Shut [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Com-Mutiny
2. Deathtraps Waiting To Happen
3. $cam
4. Employee Of The Hour
5. See Yourself In Five
6. Food Food Food
7. Easy Pickings
8. Logical Sense (ft. Rachel and Jim Butler-Bridgeman of Missing The Scene)
9. Normalisation II
10. Parasites Inc
11. Patronising Pep Talk
12. Take One Please
13. Announcement To The Carriage
14. Suspicious Package
15. This Evening
16. Sleep In The Ashes