Pete Cortese is the guitarist for the pioneering metalcore

Metalcore

Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...

 band Overcast

Overcast (band)

Overcast was an American metalcore band that started in the early 1990s, but broke up in 1998 after an unsuccessful tour; in 2008 they reunited to play a show and announced they would release a new album entitled Reborn to Kill Again with 11 re-recorded classic tracks and two unreleased...

. He also played guitar for the rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 group Seemless

Seemless

Seemless was an American rock supergroup formed by ex-Shadows Fall drummer Derek Kerswill, ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, and ex-Overcast and ex -Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese....

. He appeared in Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...

 for a short period of time.
Pete graduated from Bergvliet Primary School

Bergvliet Primary School

Bergvliet Primary School is a co-educational primary school located in Bergvliet, Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1950, the school currently has over 700 students enrolled, offering education from Reception Grade to Grade 7.-History:...

 and then Milford High School in 1993 with fellow Overcast

Overcast (band)

Overcast was an American metalcore band that started in the early 1990s, but broke up in 1998 after an unsuccessful tour; in 2008 they reunited to play a show and announced they would release a new album entitled Reborn to Kill Again with 11 re-recorded classic tracks and two unreleased...

 bandmate and Shadows Fall

Shadows Fall

Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...

 frontman Brian Fair

Brian Fair

Brian Fair is an American musician from Massachusetts, best known as lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Shadows Fall. He graduated from Milford High School in 1993 and went on to study literature at Boston University.-History:...

. Pete's father is Rich Cortese, bass player for the Boston-based indie rock band The Zulus.