Ok I'm no expert (I started listening to Bodom a few days ago) but I think the new album sounds good for what it is. If you compare it to their earlier efforts it certainly pales in comparison if your more into the melodic elements. I think my favorite album is Hate Breeder but it's too early to tell because I really haven't had the time or experience listening to them enough. Bands change all the time so you either have to evolve or find another band that can fill the void. I do agree that AYDY sounds quite American. There are fills here and there that keep it from being totally American sounding though.
Everything tends to be dumbed down for America and music is one of those things. All the bands I'm listening too right now are from Europe, the majority of magazines I buy are from the UK, the cars I like are mainly from Europe, artists Europe etc etc.
Being creative, artsy, wannabe designer has become a fad over here in North America (not sure about elsewhere) yet few are actually good at it. Proof of this is in the car modding scene. I have nothing against modding cars and there are some very nice ones out there but 95% look like complete garbage. I'm sure this happens in other parts of the world too but I can't see people outside North America taking pride in their pieces of shit. Customization has become a world wide phenomenon which is good to a point but I hope a lot of these people don't turn their hobby into a profession as a musician, or artist because most if it is Walmart quality at best.
Wow...umm totally off topic. Anyway...I don't know if anyone has heard Quo Vadis from Montreal but they are quite good and although lack some of the melody present in Swedish, or Finnish bands they have a lot more than most North American bands and have some very fast tight technical riffs. The bass on the new album is played by the bassist from Death.
Songs I recommend are:
Quo Vadis - Day into Night (2000)
07 - On the Shores of Ithaka
10 - Mute Requiem
Quo Vadis - Defiant Imagination (2004)
01 - Silence Calls The Storm
(the links to the songs on the new album work
http://www.quovadis.qc.ca/eng/mp3.html)