Ex-THE ACACIA STRAIN Guitarist Tom Smith Opens Up About Burnout and Fallout Surrounding His Exit

Former The Acacia Strain guitarist Tom Smith has broken his silence on the circumstances surrounding his 2022 departure from the band. Appearing on a recent episode of the ‘Brewtally Speaking’ podcast, Smith gave a candid account of the burnout and personal toll that ultimately led to his exit from the long-running deathcore outfit.

Now playing with bands like Suburban Scum and Natural End, Smith explained that while many assume touring slowed during the pandemic, he was still deeply entrenched in behind-the-scenes work for the band—including programming, songwriting, and production prep for their live show supporting It Comes In Waves.

“I definitely, definitely burnt myself out,” Smith shared. “I have such a tendency to overload myself with work… That final tour for me was where I truly hit burnout on the road.”

Smith went on to explain how his duties extended far beyond just playing guitar—handling tasks like MIDI programming, Kemper profiles, live playback tech, and preparing for a planned third guitarist that ultimately didn’t materialize.

“Even though it was a break from touring, I didn’t have a break from thinking about all the stuff,” he said. “If something went down in the middle of the show, it was me who had to figure it out.”

The stress extended into his personal life, as he worked three jobs during the pandemic to make ends meet—ultimately pushing him into a mental and emotional low point.

“It was just burn myself out in a ‘professional setting’, and then burn myself out in my music setting, and my mental health,” he explained. “I was a terror to be around.”

Smith also revealed that his departure caused a significant rift within the band, particularly between him and guitarist Devin Shidaker. The two didn’t speak for six months after the fallout, though they’ve since reconciled.

“Thanks to him for being the bigger person with a lot of stuff,” Smith said. “He’s one of my best friends still. I talk to him literally every day.”

Though he’s moved on to new projects, Smith’s transparency about the pressures behind the scenes serves as a reminder that burnout can affect even the most seasoned musicians.

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