Cortez formed in Boston, MA in 2006 and signed with Belgium's Buzzville Records the same year after releasing a two-song demo. The following year the Belgian label put out the band's debut EP Thunder In A Forgotten Town leading to the Bostonians appearing at the 'Maine Stoner and Doom Fest 3,' as well as at Buzzfest in Opwijk and Rossignol-Titigny, both in Belgium in November 2007.
“Imagine a horde of bloody warriors, advancing inexorably with the firm intention to cut you into pieces, you get a taste of the songs of Cortez.”
- Thib -
desertrock.com
In 2008 Cortez appeared at legendary Boston radio station WBCN's Rock'N'Roll Rumble while Thunder In A Forgotten Town placed 8th on Montreal radio station CILO's top ten list of 2008. The following year the band landed a spot on the tenth edition of the prestigious Stoner Hands of Doom Fest in Frederick, MD.
After a singer change in 2008, Cortez wrote new material and played numerous shows, resurfacing in 2012 having signed a deal with German label Bilocation Records, who released their new self-titled album in May of that year. Two years later a split 7" with Washington, DC's Borracho, Vanishing Point/Know My Name on Japan's AM Records. While working on a new album and finding a new home, Cortez played at the much-lauded Eye Of The Stoned Goat IV festival in 2014.
“There are very few ethics to which I apply universal favor, and strong songwriting is one of them. Cortez make songwriting sound inate, effortless…”
- JJ - The Obelisk
Apart from performing at the aforementioned festivals, Cortez has also played with: Brant Bjork & The Bros, The Atomic Bitchwax, Whores, Dixie Witch, Roadsaw, Devil To Pay, Monkey 3, Hypnos 69, the Bakerton Group, The Upper Crust, Borracho, Gozu, Black Pyramid, Valley Of The Sun and many others.
2016 saw the band sign with Salt Of The Earth Records for the long-awaited release of the new album, The Depths Below.