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It's the Melbourne Big Day Out and Shihad singer Jon Toogood is way atop the triple storey mixing tower inside the Boiler Room. Spreading his arms in awe at a gleefully writhing mass of humanity below, Toogood watches Ronzi Size and Raprazent perform in total communion with a crowd twice the size of Rammstein's and 10 times as happy.

"Rock bands have got to realise," Toogood shouts, sweeping a sweaty hand above thousands of dancers, each lost in the same hybrid-soul groove, "they have got to do that." He skips off across the platform and succumbs to the music in his usual hyperactive style. (Until we're told to get down: we're shaking the tower.)

As Rolling Stone readers' Artist of the Year, Shihad are no strangers to the crucial bond between band and punter. On stage, their euphoric, contagious rush of energy transcends the rock/metal genre into pure interpersonal celebration. And in the nicest possible way, they know it.

"Personally i think on a good night this band is pretty fuckin' unbeatable," Toogood confesses ina more peaceful corner, though he goes on to pay homeage to Powderfinger as his more objective choice for Artist of the Year. "I'm totally stoked but I find it quite unreal," he says of the honour. "Since i found out about it I've been walking around saying 'Hmmm, I've got to get myself an easel, some paints..."

How do you feel about winning Best Rock Act and Hardest Working Band?
Best Rock Act is the one I wanted. Awesome. I'd agree with that. Hardest Working Band? Yeah, I reckon that's right too. It didn't stop last year. When we weren't playing here we'd fly to New Zealand and tour there. I really enjoyed it but I am so glad that period is over."

How is the enthusiasm level for rehearsing the next Shihad album?
"Getting back into a room with four guys making music is such a rush. The creative side of it I've missed so much, that thrill of playing something for the first time. We don't soundcheck new stuff, we shove so much energy into our shows I don't even like thinking about anything except that set. We don't even change our set from night to night. I like to learn a set like one long song and work it to perfection."

What is the future of rock?
"I honestly reckon we've exhausted the pop avenue and kids are gonna kick against it and it'll be a good, strong rock year. I want people to know that there is so much more than the bland wall of fuckin' crap that we are presented with. For me, the message I wanna get across is 'Hey kids, is the radio as exciting as this?' Just because we're getting shit pumped down the tube doesn't mean we have to become part of that. It's just wallpaper, and I want us to leap out of that. All the best records do."

What happens next for Shihad?
"We've still got this ridiculous childhood dream of conquering America. And I don't wanna blow our trumpet but I honestly this think this next record is gonna be a defining moment for us. We all know it. We've just got to keep our heads down and work it through to the end and make sure it's perfect. It will be the right time to go to America this year. We'll be so ready."